by Karleigh Bon
Fionna stopped fretting and became hysterically louder.
“NO! You do not know if that will work. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME BACK!” Her face was wild with fear.
“LISTEN TO ME!” EJ cringed at the use of force with his own voice.
They both stood stunned into silence.
Closing his eyes, he breathed out to compose himself. After all King Ellinduil’s guidance and training, he could not ignore the fact that the pieces before him lined up. Eijlam knew he didn’t have any choice in this, and she was not making his task any easier. This opportunity may be their one chance to bring this monster to justice, and maybe even save his brother.
EJ gently held her shoulders, speaking calmly and evenly, “Fionna, you must be strong, my love. You are my beacon, my anchor. Always remember that…”
Force of One
Chapter Forty Nine
The king’s regiments were busy gathering their equipment onto wagons to return to the capital when the lone rider galloped into the gates at Ettenfahls. He had found the dragon. It was flying circles around the west side of the mountains in Illianheni. Dakein immediately knew the beast was looking for the hidden ranger outpost.
“That must be where they are. Commander Roevash is most likely there too, and the dragon will be looking for him,” he told the anxious men.
“Go back to the fort and ready our men in case we are alone in this,” Dakein ordered as he headed to the meeting room where he knew the leaders of this siege were congratulating themselves.
+++
“They are in grave danger. Dakein slammed his hand down in front of the king’s general. They are friends of the royal court!” Dakein of house Dacasyati, one of the Ranger Elite who fought this same evil in the third age, tried to reason with the young general sitting at his banquet table. He tried to persuade him to send the king’s men to help his recruits fight the dragon. None of them could fathom what kind of peril they still faced with Surmanos alive in the kingdom.
“Commander Dacasyati, we have sustained enough injury to the men against our fallen enemy. Is it so hard to retrieve three elves from Illianheni?” The general chuckled out loud.
The other captains and their aides joined in the laughter and murmured among themselves as they drank from their goblets and eyed the frustrated Dakein. None of them were of an age to understand what he was trying to tell them.
The general, wanting to get back to his victory party, was not convinced that there was any more danger. They had not seen any sign of an alleged ‘Dragon Lord’ who could command anything. To them, this whole problem was a cult of devious men posing as priests in a fanatical religion that has failed at the tips of their sharp swords.
“Their pet dragon is simply flying back home from its captivity here, and I suggest you get back to your post as well."
Dakein was rudely dismissed.
The general stubbornly scowled at him, not wanting to be bothered any longer.
The next morning the king’s army marched away to go back home to family and king.
+++
"So, what if this plan does not succeed, and you try to kill me as well?" Fionna mumbled, trying not to go into shock. She was bent over her task of cleaning armor, blunting blades and, grumbling at Ej in frustration.
“He will be weak, Fionna,” EJ took another breath, having to explain this one more time.
“There is not enough blood here. Not as in the cave of the cult." EJ shook his head, hoping he was right about that last part because the alternative might get complicated.
“You are going to do this then,” Fionna said, knowing the look of his resolve, but saying it again anyway. He didn’t answer as she sadly gazed at him.
“Then you know I will do all I can to be at your side,” she tried to sound supportive.
EJ tried to soothe her fears. He told her many more details of his plan, and they discussed alternative ideas in case the worst happened. What EJ couldn’t bring himself to say to her, was that because they were heart bonded, she was going to die in this realm when he ascended into Ilmatar.
Eijlam busied himself, stitching a loose seam in an arm brace. He was trying not to look discouraged in front of her, knowing the pain she was going to have to endure. The thought that his brother may not be able to help when the moment presented itself was another fear. He had to hold himself together; trust in his instincts and training.
“This may very well end up the death of us all,” EJ mumbled his teacher’s wisdom, recalling the conversation with Ellinduil.
"What," Fionna asked.
He just looked at her and didn't answer.
“No, I heard you. What did you say?” She sadly stared at him, trying to make him repeat the words.
EJ just stared back as he bit off the thread and tied it off.
“I thought so,” Fionna shook her head, “I knew this was a dire plan from the beginning,” she sighed and went back to blunting her daggers. She had just finished Roevash’s sword.
“If he lives through this, he is not going to be joyed at what I have done to his father’s lovely blade,” Fionna whined. Then she spoke louder, making sure EJ could hear her clearly.
“Should he ever use it against us, we might have a slim to no chance of surviving his attack.”
“Hmmm, beheading by dull sword or stabbed by blunt daggers, My future choices are bright indeed,” EJ tried humor but was met with scowls. “You can stab at me all you want, Fionna, and I will still love you,” he blinked his eyes and sighed loudly. “I am not looking forward to being hacked at with dull knives. Let us hope it does not come to that.” EJ cringed just thinking about it, and the conversation was over.
Lord Surmanos waited for his dragon. He muttered to himself and laughed on and off in his madness. Sometimes he nodded off in a death-like sleep from the stress on Roevash’s body. He was awake again. Fionna hesitated in her task to listen to him. He was singing her name this time.
It was just a trap to get her to investigate. She didn’t dare go near him, knowing the dragon could so easily enthrall her mind. That is why they dulled their blades. The idea was that a dull blade, if used correctly, would slow one of them down long enough so they could avoid killing each other if something went horribly wrong.
“There will be so little time when the dragon finds us,” Fionna moaned to herself.
"What?' EJ asked.
She turned her head sideways and looked at him.
He was rubbing oil into his leathers, his naked shoulders glistened with sweat. Fionna just faintly smiled, and he knowingly grimaced back. Ironically Roe had taught them the technique on how to do this with swords. He had spent much of his life trying not to injure misguided rankled humans. In such encounters, he would flip his sword around and use the thicker back edge of the blade.
“Well, we cannot count on that in this case… I hope it would soon be over,” she frowned again, shaking her head in doubt.
“My love, you have suffered my blood and spew. I have confidence you will do as you must,” EJ said, half playfully.
His sorry attempt at humor went unappreciated again. He encouraged her with a sweet smile, always trying to give her hope for a positive end to this.
+++
Dakein silently entered the outpost and saw an unconscious Roevash hanging tied against the detainment wall.
“Hail?” he called up the steps to alert anyone before they might try to attack.
Fionna came running down the stairs and slammed into the front of him as she burst into uncontrolled tears.
“I am so happy to see you,” she whispered, clinging to his chest.
Dakein stood surprised, with his arms open, wondering if he should hug her. He patted her lightly on the back to try to console her.
“What brings this?” he asked, looking puzzled at Roevash. He knew the elves were all family to each other and could not imagine them causing this kind of harm, but the man in custody looked tortured half to death.
Eijl
am appeared in the doorway and solemnly motioned for them to come in and not wake Roevash. Fi tugged the ranger by his arm up the few steps into the next room.
“I am glad to see you here, Dakein,” EJ said, shaking the ranger’s hand in a human greeting. “We thought we were going to be alone in what we must do.”
Dakein listened intently as EJ explained the plan. Dakein understood. He thought it was as good a strategy as any, under the circumstances. He solemnly agreed and after a short rest, hurried back to Vehlevar to prepare.
+++
“Know that I will kill your dragon and banish you to your oblivion!” Eijlam stalked around the room, feigning anger, although it did not take much effort with the Dragon Lord glaring at him. The monster was scowling silently with a sickeningly haunting expression as Eijlam spoke.
“I will have my brother back.” EJ didn’t have to try very hard to sound convincing because that was what was in his heart.
“I would see you suffer in my own hands as I eat the flesh off your bones,” Roe’s possessed body growled ominously. He followed Eijlam through deadly glaring eyes.
“You will die screaming piteously,” he delighted at that idea, and then he thought to himself, “If this fool manages to kill my dragon, I will have returned to true form with this body. I will be freed of the cumbersome dragon laws and useless dragon-kin. I might even make this fight simple for the vexatious elf.”
“Tell me your dragon’s weakness, and I will make yours a quick, easy death,” Eijlam interrogated. The skin on his neck prickled at the sight of the monster suddenly smiling confidently back at him.
“Maybe I will keep you alive long enough to watch me breed your she-elf,” Surmanos taunted viciously.
“She will beg me to fill her. She has suffered your kind long enough,” he smiled condescendingly.
Before he could speak another word, Eijlam's eyes narrowed, and he punched his brother's face as hard as he could. The monster hung there for a moment, dazed into silence.
Eijlam stood, stiffly shaking out his hurting hand. His eyes betrayed the anger and the shock of his actions.
The sound of deep sardonic laughter rose up into the room. It’s tongue slowly licked the taste of new blood that was staining into its teeth and dripping over its lip.
“She is your weakness ... she will be the final death of you,” it hissed triumphantly, spattering red droplets onto Eijlam’s face through his brother’s wide bloody smile.
Ej turned away from it's howling laughter, stalking out of the room.
He needed his brother alive!
+++
"I must keep a rein on my senses!”
EJ didn’t like the way the monster disturbed him into losing control. He wiped blood and sweat from his shocked face. He had struggled against the dragon’s thrall. It had an effect, though not as powerful, thanks to the protection afforded by his father’s divine blood. This time he felt inflamed at its words.
“If he wants death, he almost got his wish. Maybe he wants me to kill my own brother!” EJ kicked himself for such weakness.
Eijlam wanted to be as far away from Surmanos as he could get.
He could not handle another close call like that right now. Fionna was his weakness, and he knew it. He had already been over this so many times with King Ellinduil.
“She is the strength of my heart, but there is so much that could go wrong,” EJ moaned.“We might all die today, and the realm of men will never know they were saved by actions of the last elves of this kingdom.” His thoughts burned into him. “We are trapped here in life together. It seems for this purpose.”
Eijlam suffered alone until, as expected, he heard the dragon’s great claws gouging down into the hard stone above him. The ground trembled as a small stream of sand dropped out of the ceiling rock.
“So it has begun,” he said, steeling himself for what was to come.
+++
“Now witness your ruination!” Lord Surmanos laughed arrogantly.
The roof of solid rock shook again. It sounded as if it would soon collapse as the dragon clawed deeper into the stone. More streams of silt dropped down from widening cracks above.
“We fight the dragon now,” EJ shouted to Fionna.
Pulling on his bow, full quiver, and short blades, he fastened them as he moved quickly towards the door. Fionna carried her staff. It was fitted with an ornate silver spear on one end. He tried to smile bravely at her as they kissed in the doorway.
She would position herself at a distance so she had time to cast her magics and he would attack. That was most of their grand plan. EJ smiled and shrugged his shoulders at her as he suddenly felt incredibly unprepared for this fight.
“We can only do our best no matter the outcome,” he whispered quietly in her ear as he drew in a breath before charging outside.
Ej burst forward out of the opening with his bow drawn. The dragon, though small for his kind, filled the narrow field above the outpost like an oily black mountain. Not letting the sight of it shake his concentration, EJ’s eyes methodically scanned the beast for any weakness while hammering a storm of arrows between the thinner neck scales. The dragon, looking like a pincushion, swung its head following him in an attack. It quickly flung off most of the arrows that had stuck into its thick hide.
A sudden barrage of cannons hit the beast as the fort’s regiment, that had strategically lay hidden behind piled stone and brush surfaced to fight. They knocked the beast off its legs in the surprise assault. Fionna sent out a wave of ice that encased the thrashing dragon so EJ might have his chance.
Too soon it broke free and charged the line of men, who were already catapulting flaming oil pods and rock shards in its direction. Avoiding the tail and scorching hot projectiles, Eijlam shot triple rounds at the beast’s head, trying to bait it off the soldiers. He wasn’t disappointed as the burning dragon growled in frustration and turned on him. It blasted out a ground-shaking roar that almost knocked EJ off his feet. Lord Surmanos, in his dragon body, wanted to eat the annoying elf, crushing him mercilessly in his jaws. The idea of it kept him in an arrogant fervor, inside his dragon host. Seeing the elf’s balance falter, Surmanos charged forward to grab him.
Fionna created a jagged stone barrier, and the dragon crashed full speed into it. One front limb hung loose, flopping like a dead fish. The dragon bellowed in searing pain. Seizing his opportunity, Eijlam launched across the barrier and sunk one of his swords deep into the broken arm socket.
Heaving his whole body into the momentum, he severed the dragon’s shoulder joint. A tremendous cracking sound of breaking bone and sinew filled the air. The dragon hissed sorrowfully and backed away, leaving a stream of slippery blood in its path.
“It is trying to escape,” EJ could tell its evil parasite had abandoned his dragon.
It reeled in fearful agony, wildly snapping its massive foaming wet jaws at everything. Fionna gasped as EJ moved out of the way with only inches to spare.
The fort’s mounted guns roared again, and another volley hit hard. Fionna encased the weakened dragon in ice, and this time it didn’t move. EJ slammed his sword into the eye socket. It was blinded and bleeding out in its brain. The black drake’s body twitched and struggled in the thrall of death as it helplessly lay on its side. The soldiers rushed forward to finish the job. They struck the beast where they could until it stopped moving.
Song of Two Brothers
Chapter Fifty
Ej was leaning over with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. Fionna caught up to him and hugged him tightly, almost knocking him down. She wanted to melt into his body and hold him forever.
“Now comes the hard part,” he said regarding her eyes softly.
“I am not eager to confront this evil that has possessed my brother,” he confessed. Fionna felt like she was dying inside as fear of forever losing him in this threatened to overtake her.
“You can trust our heart,” she said as she reached up to stroke his cheek and hair
with her fingers.
“You know I will always find you wherever you are, my beloved,” her voice choked into a whisper as she spoke.
He could see tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to be strong. Ej handed his weapons over to Dakein.
“You must believe in us, Fionna, my brother, will know.” EJ kissed her deeply. Their fingers entwined. They sadly nodded to each other. EJ turned and clasped Dakein on the shoulder.
“I am counting on you as well. Take her safely to the king.”
Dakein solemnly nodded as Eijlam headed into the outpost to see what had become of his brother.
+++
Roevash hung unconscious like a dying animal caught in a spider’s web. His skin and lips had mottled corpse gray.
His hair was sticky with sweat as it hung across his face. EJ looked on with concern at the rapid deterioration of his brother’s body. It seemed impossible that he could survive this.
"He cannot take much more," EJ thought to himself. A memory of Roe after he had survived the lion attack flashed in his mind. “I’ve had much practice,” his grinning brother had said when EJ marveled at how tough he was.
“Let’s just pray you still are, nîn hawn,” he spoke as much to the memory as he did for his own sake.
He had held a faint hope that the mad god would merely die with his dragon, but of course, nothing could be that easy. He scowled as he located the wooden pail kept for drinking water.
“We shall find out then,” he sighed. Shaking his head, he picked up the bucket. Eijlam splashed the cold water over his brother’s head.
“Wake for the good news,” he said sarcastically. The water that didn’t get soaked into Roe’s sweat-streaked shirt streamed off onto the floor in wet slippery puddles.
“Your cult followers are all dead as well as your dragon…” Eijlam cheerlessly threw the container. It clunked across the flagstone floor, making a racket before it came to rest in the farthest corner. To his sadness, he watched Surmanos rise up in his brother’s body to speak.
“You fool…” the bloody mouth sputtered from beneath a curtain of stringy wet hair. Roevash’s pale blue eyes glowed bright red as his body spoke under the completed ascendancy of Lord Surmanos.