At Raynes' command, two of his men drew their swords and lunged at Dorian and Julian, while the other two immediately went for Lillian, grabbing her tightly.
In a swift display of skill, Dorian and Julian seamlessly dodged the sword strikes.
Dorian, with the fluidity of a seasoned warrior, parried each blow effortlessly, countering with precision strikes that disarmed one of the assailants.
Meanwhile, Julian moved with the grace of a shadow, his movements almost dance-like as he skillfully disarmed the other attacker. With a swift kick, he sent the disarmed man stumbling backward.
The two men, now disarmed found themselves at the mercy of Dorian and Julian. The tables had turned, and Tywin's henchmen were now the ones struggling to maintain their composure.
Suddenly, the two henchmen holding Lillian decided to release her, opting to assist there comrades in the escalating fight.
Lillian backed away, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and surprise as she watched the skilled display of combat before her.
Raynes, witnessing his men's defeat, scowled and unsheathed his own sword. It was clear he intended to take matters into his own hands.
Raynes, fueled by frustration and a wounded ego, charged at Dorian with a fierce determination.
Dorian, without a sword of his own, expertly used the one he had just disarmed from his opponent.
Raynes strikes were aggressive, aiming to overpower Dorian, but Dorian met each attack with calculated precision.
The clash of swords echoed through the forest as the two engaged in a skilled dance of blades.
Dorian's movements were fluid and controlled, showcasing the expertise gained from countless battles. Raynes, though formidable, struggled to match Dorian's finesse.
Julian, having swiftly dealt with his opponent, joined Dorian's side. The two fought in tandem, their synchronization evident in every coordinated strike. The forest became a stage for their battle, the moonlight filtering through the trees casting a dramatic aura over the confrontation.
Lillian, now a safe distance away, watched with a mix of awe and trepidation. The display of combat prowess before her was unlike anything she had ever witnessed.
Raynes, recognizing the grim reality of his situation, attempted a final desperate move. With a sudden burst of energy, he aimed for a direct strike at Dorian's chest, hoping to catch him off guard.
However, Dorian, with a swift sidestep, avoided the attack effortlessly. Taking advantage of the opening, he disarmed Raynes with a deft move, sending the sword flying through the air.
Raynes fell to his knees, defeated and humiliated. Dorian, displaying a cold resolve, stood over him, a silent warning in his gaze.
"Leave," Dorian commanded, his voice cutting through the tension-filled air.
Raynes, battered and defeated, nodded begrudgingly. However, as he signaled to his remaining men, Lillian suddenly surged forward, brandishing the dagger she had meticulously taken from one of the fallen henchmen.
"My lady, wait!" Julian tried to halt her, but it was too late. With an unyielding determination, Lillian relentlessly stabbed Raynes in the face, each thrust more profound than the last, until he ceased to exist.
But Lillian persisted, the fire in her eyes undiminished even when it was clear that Raynes was no more.
"He's dead, my lady. You have to stop." Julian spoke softly, his gentle touch on Lillian's arm urging her to relent.
Lillian's eyes welled with tears. Not tears of sorrow, but of a potent mix of relief and triumph.
She had, at last, avenged the suffering inflicted upon the people she held dear.
Panting and gripping the dagger tightly, Lillian stood amidst the fallen, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
Raynes was a despicable man, and he received the fate he deserved. She found a strange sense of satisfaction in being the one that put an end to his wickedness.
"He was a wretched person," Lillian explained, turning to Julian and Dorian. She let the dagger fall to the ground.
"He must have been truly dreadful for you to have attacked him like that," Julian remarked, surveying Raynes's lifeless body, now bearing a grotesque and horrifying countenance.
"Yes, he was. Every time I tried to escape in the past from Tywin, Raynes would find me. No matter how I begged, he would drag me back to him. But that wasn't the worst part," Lillian recounted, her voice trembling lightly.
"I would be punished every time I was dragged back to Tywin for attempting to escape. Because Tywin didn't favor physical punishment, Raynes, that devil, gave him an idea that was beyond horrible. I was strapped to a chair, forced to watch as my innocent handmaiden was stripped and burnt to death because of me."
"Holy Diviner!" Julian exclaimed, aghast, while Dorian maintained his cold composure.
"Raynes was always the one who burnt them alive, their screams echoing in the darkness."
"Wait, them? This happened multiple times?"
Lillian nodded solemnly. "Three."
"That must have been horrendous," Julian spoke softly.
"It was," Lillian replied, her expression weighed down by the painful memories.
"We don't have time for this. We have to keep moving," Dorian interrupted harshly. "He's dead now, so you've avenged them. No need to reminisce."
Lillian and Julian exchanged glances, both taken aback by Dorian's apparent lack of empathy. It was as if he couldn't fathom the emotional toll of Lillian's past suffering.
"Dorian, she just avenged the death of her innocent companions. Can't you show a bit of understanding?" Julian interjected, his voice laced with frustration.
Dorian's gaze remained cold, his stoic demeanor unwavering. "We're not out of danger yet. There's no time for dwelling on the past."
"I prayed under the same breath that you would win the tournament and also not be anything like Tywin. I guess only one of my prayers got answered," Lillian declared firmly, no longer holding back her feelings.
Dorian scoffed. "Not everything is about you. You must be used to that feeling, that everything is, but it's not. I didn't enter that tournament because I wanted you as my prize or sought the thrill or glory from it. I entered because what's coming is evidently bigger than anything, and it's my duty to stop it. My duty to protect. I didn't choose it. No one does. So, quit your complaining, and let's move forward. Or you can return to Tywin if that's what you prefer." Dorian grunted with a clenched jaw as he towered over Lillian.
Frustration and anger etched across his face; Dorian had reached his limit.
Today had been one of the worst, yet he endured it all to protect her, and she dared compare him to Tywin – that bastard who was as evil as he was greedy.
"I didn't ask you to save me," Lillian strained, a little intimidated by his presence. His eyes seemed to burn when he was angry.
Dorian chuckled mockingly.
"You're a prize, Lillian. I won you," he declared, crushing Lillian's spirits.
"I think that's enough, Dragon." Julian stepped in respectfully. He knew Dorian's full power and was definitely scared of him.
"Let's go," Dorian commanded, turning away and striding toward his horse. Seizing the reins, he began walking, with Julian and a reluctantly seething Lillian following suit.