Chapter 52 - Rea 51

TW// Blood, violence, death

She immediately ran out of her tent, heart slamming against her chest. Rea had fallen asleep amidst the planning and was woken up by the war horns. The realization of the past days had hit her. Her parents' death, Cornelis' betrayal, Margey's sacrifice, the fall of her kingdom, Ivan's death, and Neirin's leaving. The emotions of everything had hit her and all she could do was cry and then fall asleep. She had fallen asleep at the time like this. As soon as she got out of the tent, she saw Elias and Tivon running to her.

"The troops are on the south and there are ships approaching at sea." Said Elias while running.

When they got close Rea, without even thinking, pulled Tivon into a tight hug. This could be the last time she saw them, or they saw her.

"Please be careful." She whispered and looked at Elias. "You two are the only ones I've got. Don't die on me." She whispered. Rea didn't want to hug Elias, she was aware of his boundaries and was surprised when he put his hands around her and hugging her tight.

"Be careful."

They looked at each other again, trying to hold back the tears and the shaking of their bodies.

"Move to plan C." She said and turned to her private tent where a set of polished armour awaited her. Everyone tried to persuade her to not be on the battlefield when the fight occurs, but she wouldn't do that. She will fight among her people.

When she put on her armour, made to fit just her, she turned to face a mirror. She could barely recognize herself – in war armour, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and her bloodshot eyes from crying and staying awake for days and Ivan's pin above her heart. She placed her hand on it and closed her eyes. Please, guide me.

"Your Majesty?" Rea turned around to see Amelia, standing by the door, her head in a bow. "Your horse is ready."

Her hair was put into a low braid, falling over her shoulder. She was also dressed in armour, a Rapier at her side. When she looked up, she still had the smallest pinch of green in her eyes, Cornelis' magic still reflecting on her.

"Are all the people safe?" Asked Rea.

"They are. The entrance has been hidden."

"Good." She turned towards her sword and arrows. "Stay with them."

"But, Your Majesty, I want to fight on the battlefield."

Rea didn't look at her as she adjusted the sword at her right. "The people need someone who will protect them too."

"There are others there who have this duty."

"Amelia, I don't want you to die on the battlefield."

"Your Majesty, I had sacrificed myself to be you once and I'm not afraid to pledge my life for you again."

Rea didn't have a heart to turn around and face her. "It was an order!"

Amelia shut her mouth in shook and then bowed. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

She exited the tent and went towards the cave. Rea adjusted the quiver of arrows on her back, holding her tears away. So many people wanted to fight for her, but she couldn't allow it. They had no training, they didn't know how to fight. Amelia was a maid, she would've been killed in minutes of stepping on a battlefield.

Rea took a breath and left the tent. The horse with the troops took her up on the hill, where the other armed force was already stationed down the hill. Elias and Tivon were waiting for her at the top both of them in armour. Rea had trouble convincing Elias to wear it.

"I don't need armour. Never in my twenty four years of my life did I need it."

"Elias, this is different. You are not on a ship, these are not pirates. This is war."

Rea was glad he had put it on. She approached them with her horse, the squad of archers who followed her, stayed behind. Rea looked in front of her at the man gathered on Luana's side. There weren't a lot of them.

"Is that all of them?"

"I doubt it." Said Elias. "Luana is a tricky woman. She probably has something planned."

"Did you see anyone at sea?"

"Nothing in proximity of an eye. Just The Rose Sparrow." Said Tivon.

She didn't like that there was only The Rose Sparrow at sea. Luana had ships and if she decided to use them, Elias' ship wouldn't stand a chance. But Elias asked her to trust her, and she did. She only hoped it wouldn't cost her the lives of millions. Rea looked over her shoulder at the distant kingdom, hidden behind a cloud of smoke. "Cornelis?"

"No movements from the kingdom."

"Good."

Rea looked back and then someone moved through the troops gathered on the enemy's side. He wore a dark blue coat, his hair and beard white. There was no sign of Luana.

"Who's that?"

"Mithras."

Rea looked at Elias. "Who?"

"Luana's father." He met her eyes. "And Neirin's father."

"What?!"

She never told her. Of course, she never did. Neirin had betrayed her, she was probably already somewhere amongst their army. Rea was glad she left before she could hear all of their plans. Still, why did she feel so deceived, so hurt by her actions?

"Take places." Said Elias.

Rea saw the man in dark blue, raising up his sword and then their army started running towards them.

"Draw your swords!" Screamed Rea to her troops below her. Elias pulled out his twin swords and Tivon pulled out his. Rea took one of her arrows and strung her bow. She lifted it up, closed her eyes and breathed in. This is it. She opened her eyes and fired the arrow towards the man called Mithras. It missed, but she didn't aim to hit – she aimed to distract.

Mithras watched the arrow strike the ground before him and while he was watching it, the archers behind Rea came to the top of the hill and fired the arrows down into the approaching army. Bodies started falling down.

Rea turned to Tivon and Elias one last time. "This will not be our goodbye." They nodded in answer and then Rea moved her horse into a run down the hill. She grabbed another arrow, adjusted it on to the bow and ran into the bloodshed with her people.

It was nothing like the fighting on ships with pirates. It was nothing like her countless dreams of killing. It still scared her how easy it was to shoot an arrow through one's body or slicing a blade across their chest. It was still terrifying how easy it was to take a life.

However, watching people die, watching your people die, by the hands of an enemy, knowing that you can't help them, because someone is about to slice off your head – that was even more horrid. The smell of blood and gore filled the air, this time not washed down by the pouring rain. And the screams, the screams were the worst of it all. It was the constant ringing in her ears.

At one point she had lost her horse. Its legs were sliced in half by one of royal soldier of Lucine – soldier who should be fighting with Rea and not Luana. She had also already used most of her arrows and had now proceeded to use her sword. Rea was thankful for every hour Ivan had, her and Tivon, taught them to use a sword.

When she could take a second to breath, she would always look around the battlefield for Tivon and Elias, just to see if they were okay. It almost cost her her head. Rea barley dogged a Sabre to her neck. She swung her sword up just in time.

"So, you're the princess, Luana wants to get rid of." Said a cold raspy voice.

Rea looked up at the man who stood in front of the troops. He had the same eye shape of eye as Neirin, but the colour of them were Luana's. He pushed his Sabre closer, surprising Rea with his strength.

"I'm surprised you're even fighting. A princess is not to fight in wars."

Rea gripped her sword. "I am no princess." She pushed Mithras away and straightened her back. "I am the rightful Queen of The Kingdom of Naydawin and Lucine."

"Not after this war." He said with a smile and swung her sword at her.

Rea, this time prepared, managed to block his attack better. "At least I'm not a coward like Luana. I stand here with my people, and I will fight to my very last blood drop."

"How poetic."

He pushed her towards the ground. Rea ducked her head down, before he could slice her neck in half. She kicked him in the knee, forcing him to kneel. She then quickly got out of his grip and steadied her posture, holding the sword in front of her. Mithras stood up, unbothered and looked over her shoulder.

"Not the best swordsman."

"I would prefer a bow." Said Rea and launched at him.

He blocked it with one hand and before Rea could move away, he reached for the knife on his belt and sliced her cheek. Rea stepped away, brushing away the blood. Mithras circled his sword towards her.

"End this child. You have no chance of winning." He said coldly.

Rea glanced around the field. What was he talking about? They were in fact less of Luana's man than hers. If anything, they should be the ones retreating.

"Oh, not here, princess. You forgot about the sea."

A dreadful feeling washed over Rea. She turned towards the sea. There was only The Rose Sparrow, drifting on calm water and then she looked closer – from the mist, far away on water, appeared ships.

"Fifty ships." Said Mithras, as Rea's heart began to beat faster. "No matter how good The Rose Sparrow is, it can't drown fifty ships."

Rea didn't have time to turn when he impaled his Sabre into her tight. Rea screamed and fell on her knees. She turned around too late, and he pushed her against the hard ground. He placed one foot on her neck and pushed.

"You can't win."

Rea pushed and pulled, trying to get the weight off of her, gasping for air. Mithras leaned closer.

"At least you'll die amongst your people."

He gripped the sword and rose it up. He didn't have time to strike down, as a knife sliced his cheek, impaling into the dirt next to Rea's head. She turned towards it and her eyes widened in surprise.

Mithras turned around slowly, removing the foot from Rea's throat. She pushed away from him and gasped for air.

"You were supposed to be dead." He said with a cold disappointing voice.

Rea looked up, smiling with relief. She would recognize that knife in her dreams, after all, she was given the same one on the ship of the woman who gave it to her. Neirin stood before her father, knives already in her hand.

"I guess your dear daughter doesn't tell you everything." Her eyes suddenly flashed with anger. "How does it feel to be betrayed, father?"

Before she could let him finish she swung her knives impaling him on three separate parts of his body. She then ran to Rea and pulled her on her feet.

Rea leaned against her, trying to ignore the pain in her leg. "If you had a gun, you could've already killed him."

"If you'd aimed right the first time, we wouldn't have this conversation."

Rea managed a brief smile before turning to face her. "Amari?"

She didn't expect Neirin to smile. She pointed at the battlefield. There was Amari, bandaged up, fighting, and swiftly moving though the soldiers, their Longsword swinging in their hand.

"I'm sorry I left." Rea looked up at her. "I didn't want to, I was just worried for Amari and-"

"It's okay." Rea said with a smile. "I accept the apology." She looked at Mithras pulling out the last knife. "Let's deal with him."

Neirin nodded, let go of Rea and reached for her knives. She quickly glanced around and winked. "You look good in armour."

Rea was glad she turned around, because her face heated up and was probably red as the blood dripping down her cheek. This woman. She smiled and grabbed the sword lying on the ground beside her.

"You were a mistake." Said Mithras as he limped towards them.

"I know." Neirin gripped the knives. "You've told me a million times. You were just afraid to say it to my face."

She threw the knife at him, this time dodging it. Rea launched at him slicing him on the side with her sword. He punched her away, but Neirin was already in front of him, her sword drawn.

"I should've cut your other hand too." He said while spitting blood.

"You made me do it, when it wasn't even necessary." She spat at him.

He smiled, his teeth bloodied. "You didn't even question it."

"I know. You won't have to either."

His eyes narrowed as Rea brought down her sword, slicing off his hand. He fell backwards, too shock to even scream. The blood spilled down his chopped hand like a waterfall of red. He looked up, anger twisting his face, but Neirin was already there, pushing the sword through his stomach.

"You were nothing. Everyone that praised you was just afraid of you, but you were always a coward. There's a difference between me and you. You bought your way into the ranks and stories." Neirin twisted the sword. "And I earned my place."

She pulled the sword out as Mithras fell on the hard ground into his own blood. Nerin's eyes met Rea's. She smiled as a dark shadow pushed her onto the ground. Rea didn't hesitate. She grabbed the nearest bow and shot an arrow at him.

She knew that uniform. They were the same as the ones who chased her, Tivon, and Elias. Dressed in black coveralls, their heads wrapped up in ropes, their faces hidden behind dark green masks that resembled a jade dragon.

It was Luana's personal army – quick and deadly, trained to kill. Rea looked over her shoulder to see the dark figures approach them. There were too many of them. She looked at the sea, where the ships were dangerously close. Her eyes met Neirin's as she mouthed Run.