Princess of Ruin

1

The battlefield was bathed in blackened ash sticking to my bloodied skin like armour. Screams of warriors filled the air in a deafening cry for help as they marched forward. The glint of swords still showed amongst the murky air around us, the clash of blades igniting fear and determination in my chest. They screamed with tear-streaked faces as they raised their weapons above their heads in warning, it ripped through me and my dwindling energy as I staggered forward. My own blood was hot as it spilled from the gaping wounds that covered my body, my arms ached and burned, still gripping my blade in my hands. My silver chest plate was now cutting into my skin and my black hair was loose around my waist sticky with sweat and blood. A growl ripped through my throat as I saw them.

The monsters of the fae. They stood a foot taller than me with silver armour and long blades dragging across the wet meadow. Their faces were blank with beauty and eyes wild with a hunger for chaos and reckoning. My stomach twisted as I saw their commander, a female with moonlight white hair and fangs. Her skin looked as though it was kissed with the cold and her head had sharpened horns growing from her forehead, she was the only one smiling. She winked at me and anger pooled in the pit of my stomach as she taunted me from afar. I gripped my blade tighter in my hand as we stared at each other, the sounds of the screams drifted away leaving me trapped in this battle with our eyes.

"Princess, we must leave, we are going to lose!" A soldier staggered forward before me, his face so swollen he could barely open his eyes. His armour was broken and spattered in black ooze and blood as he clutched the already infected wound on his arm. My stomach dropped at the sight of him, he looked young; no more than eighteen and already facing the cruelty of war.

"If we leave our people die, if we stay we die. We have no choice. My bow!" I rested my fingers against his shoulder as the words left my lips, they were cold and unfeeling. He only dropped his head fighting the tears that threaten to leave everyone's eyes.

"My bow!" I called louder this time, turning back to see my comrade and friend Lily. She handed me my bow with a sharp nod and I silently sent a prayer to whoever was watching over me to look over my kingdom and family.

"We fight for our people and ourselves," I said looking up into her eyes which were not brimmed with tears of uncertainty. No, Lily's eyes were full of ruthlessness and determination for life. To win. Balling up my strength in me I set my target on the female fighting across from me. The smell of smoke-choked me, and the roar of anger and sadness filled my body as I grabbed my iron arrow. I took aim watching her twist and turn like a gazelle. Her footwork light and her face poised with grace and blood. I watched her and waited.

"I have your back," Lily yelled as she stood behind me. Her short blades in her hands ready to attack. I planted my feet into the ground and I hoped that the young soldier was somewhere far from here.

"We will live," I grunted as I aimed. Lily screamed behind me before my feet were no longer planted in the land, my hands no longer gripped by the bow as twisted hands clamped around my throat. Pain gripped me, ripping away air from my lungs, stalling my beating heart for a moment or two. Rage turned into fear at the back of my eyes as I stared up at the attacker, they only grimaced as my eyes met theirs. I thrashed against the long spiny fingers that felt like thorns embedded into my skin, I strangled out a cry as blood filled my mouth. My fingers clawed at the hands, digging my nails in like iron butcher knives ripping down the hard flesh.

"Poor Princess, if only you could live to see us take over your pitiful little kingdom." He taunted me. I could barely make out his violent red eyes as I choked on more air. The fae was tiny like a rocking horse with a long twisted green nose and long lanky arms. He had no teeth with roots for hair pulled behind his face. He was disgusting and I thrashed harder, stretching my free arm to punch him in the side of his face, he grunted but still held on. Over and I threw my fist, adrenaline pulsed my thrumming heart and he smiled wider this time, already knowing that I was losing against him.