~~~
Ryker's siege intensifies, his army's relentless drumbeat shaking the kingdom's foundations. Nelson's warriors man the battlements, their faces set in grim determination.
Felicia trembles in Nelson's arms, her eyes wide with fear. "I will not let him harm you," Nelson whispers.
Eira stands guard, her sword shining.
Right in that instance, Ryker's warriors breach the outer walls.
Nelson's knights charge and clashing steel echoes throughout the kingdom. Arrows and darts rain all around.
The kingdom's gates shudder as Ryker's war machines rumble.
Catapults launch and boulders crash. The kingdom's walls crumble.
The entire scene is heart wrenching to behold.
Nelson's warriors begin to fall, one after the other, and so Eira is forced to fight by her step-brother's side openly. Her sword slices, clearing off Ryker's soldiers.
Ryker's soldiers begin to falter. Nelson's heart swells with hope, pride, and admiration.
Eira's skill stands unmatched.
Felicia's grip tightens on Nelson. His arm wraps her as a sort of protective shield. .
Ryker's rages . "Breach the inner keep!"
Nelson's gaze hardens. "Never!" Nelson growls fiercely.
Warriors suddenly rally to defend the keep.
Ryker's soldiers surge and so the tides of battle shift.
Nelson's knights begin to lose their strength and Eira's sword begins to falter.
Felicia's voice whispers. "Nelson?"
Nelson's heart sinks with uncertainty, doubt, and an emotion he had not felt in a long time, fear.
Ryker's laughter resounds as he mocks, "Your majesty, your kingdom burns!"
Flames engulf. The keep's walls crack.
Nelson's determination burns and suddenly Felicia's eyes blaze with determination, a fierce inner light illuminating her face. She pushes away from Nelson, her voice steady.
"I refuse to keep hiding away like a coward," Felicia declares. "I will fight too."
Nelson's eyes meet with Felicia's, surprise and admiration mingling.
"My queen, you are —"
Cutting him short, Felicia affirms, jaw set for battle.
"I am tired of being a pawn in all of this. I am not just a pawn, Nelson. I am the queen of Evaria."
Eira's eyes widened in shock. "Felicia, you do not understand—"
Felicia's hand on Eira's arm silences her. "I understand more than enough. Ryker has taken everything. But not today!""
Felicia strides forward, pushing past as Nelson's warriors part. Awestruck.
Felicia's hidden strength unfolds. Her slender fingers wrap around a sword.
Eira's eyes shine. "Pride of the kingdom," Eira whispers.
Out of nowhere, Felicia charges. Ryker's soldiers stumble back.
Her sword slices with such deadly precision.
Nelson's heart swells with pride and wonder. Once more, he had underestimated his innocent looking wife.
Eira fights alongside. Tandem dance of steel and warriors rally as Nelson's knights regain ground.
Ryker's face contorts. "Foolish girl!" Ryker mockingly spits.
Felicia's gaze locks onto Ryker. "I am no girl," Felicia declares. "I am the queen of Evaria, wife of Nelson Bianchi! And you will respect me!."
Ryker's sword clashes with Felicia's. Sparks fly.
Felicia's determination burns and Nelson's growing love for her shines.
Eira's sword reinforces, aiding Felicia so that Ryker stumbles.
Felicia's blade presses.
Ryker's eyes widen as he fears within him that defeat looms.
Felicia's sword slices through the chaos, its blade shimmering with deadly precision, illuminating the darkening battlefield. Ryker stumbles back, his eyes wide with shock, his face pale as alabaster.
"You dare challenge me?" Ryker snarls, his voice trembling.
Felicia's gaze burns with unyielding determination, her eyes blazing like wildfire.
"I will make sure I end all of this by ending you," Felicia vows, her voice steady and confident.
Their blades clash in a deadly waltz, sparks dancing across the steel.
Ryker's warriors falter asNelson's knights press.
Eira's sword reinforces stronger than ever and Ryker's defenses crumble.
Felicia's blade presses even further and Ryker's eyes plead for her to show mercy.
Felicia's face sets in unwavering determination. There would be no show of mercy. None. She was determined to put an end to his evil acts by putting an end to his life.
Her sword thrusts even further as Ryker unconsciously cries out, but it is too late.
A shadow intercepts. Turns out, it is one of Ryker's warriors. Kael's brother, Viktor. Viktor's eyes lock onto Felicia in a sacrificial resolve to protect Ryker, his king.
Viktor takes the blow as Felicia's sword pierces right through him.
Viktor's body shields Ryker, giving him enough time to escape.
A coward's flight. Felicia's gaze widens in horror as she beholds the sight.
With his final breath, Viktor says, "Protect...my king..." Viktor gasps.
Felicia's heart wrenches and Nelson's roar is heard. "No!" Nelson thunders.
Eira cries out. "Viktor, no!" Eira screams.
While they are caught up in this, Ryker gets the chance to vanish.
He manages to escape captivity.
Felicia's sword trembles at the sight of Viktor's sacrifice. Guilt begins to weigh down on her.
Nelson's arms envelop her in a comforting solace. "Felicia, don't blame yourself," Nelson softly whispers, trying to console her.
Felicia's eyes welled up with tears, and after fighting to hold back the tears, it fell.
Viktor's memory was echoing. He was an honorable enemy who defended his king till his dying breath.
Viktor's body slumps, he becomes lifeless within the instance.
The battlefield suddenly becomes silent and heavy stillness fills the air.
Felicia's voice breaks. "Why?" Felicia whimpers.
Eira's eyes drop. "Viktor's loyalty..." Eira trails.
Nelson's jaw clenches. "Ryker will certainly pay," Nelson vows.
The battlefield trembles beneath the feet of Nelson's warriors as they surge forward, their armor glinting in the fading light of day. Eira's sword slices through the chaos, its blade shimmering with deadly precision, striking true and finding its mark in the hearts of Ryker's soldiers.
Felicia's gaze burns with determination, her eyes blazing like wildfire as she fights alongside Nelson's knights. The tides of battle shift irrevocably in their favor, Ryker's army crumbling beneath the onslaught.
Surrender echoes through the battlefield, Ryker's soldiers dropping their arms and pleading for mercy. Nelson's voice thunders across the landscape, his command clear.
"Take them!" Nelson orders his warriors to seize Ryker's soldiers and bind them in chains.
Defeat weighs heavily upon Ryker's shoulders, his escape route sealed off by Nelson's strategic maneuvering. Nelson's eyes narrow, his focus fixed on the final objective.
"Find Ryker," Nelson commands, his warriors scouring the battlefield to bring the traitorous king to justice.