The Final Hour

Chapter 13

"Eadu when will you-" He is cut off by a screech. I frantically whip around trying to locate the scream. A loud horn blows, and the still evening air is suddenly full of sounds of battle.
I exchange a look with Derrin.
I knew this would happen. I knew we wouldn't get away with this!
The battle has begun.

...............................................................

I instantly grab my knife with my left hand and the reigns with my right. Let me tell you-there is nothing worse then waiting in the dark for somebody to attack you. So I decide not to stick around.
I kick my horse into action, and we fly through the lines. Sounds of battle erupt all around me. I grip my knife tighter. I can dimly make out a figure coming at me. There's no time to tell if he's a friend or a foe. I slice downward and nick his arm. He screams and falls to the ground. I purposely aim to injure-not kill. I've made the mistake of killing people in the past-I never want to repeat it.
Ever.
I wade my way through the crowd. Every time I engage in battle, I pray it's not one of my own soldiers. In the black night-it's nearly impossible to distinguish who the real enemy is. Generals yelling, blades clashing, people screaming in pain-the noises of the battle haunt me.
I close my eyes. Someday, maybe, my life will go back to normal. Maybe someday all of this crap will be worth it.
Maybe someday I'll be happy.
I doubt it. I doubt I'll survive long enough to see the sun-never less to be happy.
But maybe I can be satisfied. I can be proud. I am proud of myself. It's not easy running a country at 16. It's not easy being me. But I've managed. I can do this. I've achieved more in my 16 years then some people have in a life time. I've overcome incredible odds.
I feel a smile light up my face.
Maybe I can be happy too.

The smile dissipates from my face as I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder. Specifically my bad one. I look down to see a thin line of blood running down my arm. It hurts. A lot. I cry out, and slam the hilt of my blade into my attackers forehead. They crumple, and I kick my horse into motion once again. I grit my teeth as the pain intensify's. Obviously I have to get hurt in the one place I don't want to get injured.
Just my luck.
I hold my knife tightly and continue fighting. I can see the moon peek out from a layer of clouds, and everything is washed in light. I see several of my soldiers looking bruised and battered, but alive. I see the Echidninarian forces retreating.
A grim smile appears on my features. Maybe not all hope is lost.
I give directions for my men to push forward-to break through the final line of the enemy defence. They obey and fight with renewed strength.
Please-the Echidninarian army didn't stand a chance compared to these 100 or so men, determined to stay alive. I reach up with my good hand and wipe the sweat out of my eyes. I urge my horse forward, intending to break free of the battle as so many of my soldiers are now doing. But my horse stumbles, and I'm thrown from the saddle. I land hard on the ground. For a second I lie there, trying to regain my bearings.
Ow.......
I manage to stand up and look around. Horses are galloping past me, not paying attention to the girl standing in the middle of a battle zone.

"What's a pretty girl like yourself doing here?" A rough voice comes from behind me. I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder, turning me around. Panic washes through me as I try to shake him off.
The man standing there would actually give small children nightmares. He was that ugly. He had a eyepatch over one eye, and his face was disfigured from the deep scars marring his skin. I open my mouth to scream, but he slaps me across the cheek, shutting me up effectively.
I glare at the man and attack him with my good arm.
Whatever this man doesn't have in the looks, he certainly has as a warrior. He is a fantastic fighter, easily matching my best moves. I know that this might be my toughest match ever.
Don't give up. Don't give up.
I can hear Laura's voice repeating in my head. I remember the day she told me that. It was just after I came home from the Amazon camp.

The autumn sunlight filtered in through my window. I was lying in my bed. It was one of those rough days. I could barely move. My head was pounding for lack of sleep. Ever since I had returned from the Amazon's, nightmares had been plaguing me. Almost every night I would wake half of the castle with my screams. I dreamt of my family, of Electra. Even (to this day, I'm ashamed to admit it) of Gai. Each night they would scream at me. They would kill my friends. The people I loved and trusted told me how worthless I was. I hated feeling so weak. So out of control. It was affecting everybody in the castle.
One day Laura marched in and walked to my closet. She pulled out a simple white dress and walked over to me.
"What are you doing?" I growled. She rolled her eyes.