To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 24

Jared blocked a blow from Theo. The blow sent his sword crashing to the ground. Theo kicked him hard making Jared lose his balance. Jared fell down on his back. He rolled and tried going for his sword but it was too far out of reach. Eve watched helplessly as theo lifted his blade high to cut Jared down. This was the end. Jared looked at Eve. He wanted her face to be the last thing he ever saw. When he saw her he saw the unthinkable.

She was being circled by a cat. Her bow was trained on the cat as it circled. When she looked up and met Jared's eye she was surprised. She lowered her bow. The cat had lunged and was flying towards her. She lifted her bow taking aim. But not at the right target. She was aiming at king Theo. The arrow released just as the cat came down on her. There was a thunk as the arrow hit home.

"Nooo!" Jared screamed. There was nothing he could do but watch. He heard theo fall to the ground next to him but he couldn't take his eyes away from Eve.

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The cat knocked me backwards sending my bow flying and causing my hands to fly out instinctively to catch myself. A thin wooden shaft pressed itself into my palm. Hopping for a arrow on the end of the shaft I grabbed it and shoved it into the cats chest just as it was about to tear into my neck.

The beast roared in pain as thick hot blood poured out of it all over my chest and neck. Then it was silent as the life left its body. I couldn't breath with all the dead weight on me. Suddenly the weight of the cat was thrown off of me.

"Eve!" Jared gasped when he saw that I was covered in blood. He looked terrified.

"It's not mine" I managed to say. My whole body was shaking with fear. Jared reached down and pulled me upright crashing me against him. I stood there quaking in his arms as he held me tight.

"I thought you were dead." He said. "Why did you take that shot?!" he demanded holding me at arms length. There was fire in his eyes as he demanded an answer.

"I could save myself or end our problems with theo once and for all. And you've saved me so many times I wanted to return the favor." Then I remembered what had happened earlier. I looked down to his side where there was a gaping hole in his armor.

"Are you hurt?" I asked my hands flying to the gaping hole in his armor. By some miracle he was still alive.

"It barely grazed my side." He replied placing his hand under my chin forcing me to look at him. "Nothing to worry about."

My reply was interrupted by a horn.

This was the third attack on us. I didn't know how much more we could take. Jared and I hurried to the edge of the forest to see the new wave of soldiers. There were so many they completely surrounded us.

Out in front if them was a woman on a white horse. When she saw us emerge from the tree line she galloped towards us quickly. Jared stepping in front of me blocking me with his body.

"Saphrine?" Jared said when she was in ear shot. "What are you doing here."

"I came to end things. This war is ridiculous." Her words surprised me. "Where are my father and brother?"

Jared was silent at her question. It was obvious he didn't know how to tell her they were dead. There was no telling what she would do when she learned of their deaths.

I stepped out from behind the protection of Jared's large frame to face her. "Saphrine." I said trying to think of a way that I could possibly soften the blow.

"They're dead aren't they?" she asked without a hint of sadness in her voice.

"I'm sorry." I said softly trying to figure out her reaction.

"I'm not." She said and we both looked at her shocked. "That old tyrant deserved what he got. Thinking he can go claim whatever kingdom he wants for himself without any consequences. I'm glad he's dead. Saves me the trouble." She spat.

Jared and I both had the same shocked expression on our faces as we looked at her. All along she hadn't agreed with what her father and brother were doing. While they were alive she was trapped. Now that they were gone she could claim her kingdom and run it however she wanted.

"You are all free." She said. Then she gave a short blast on her horn and her troops turned around and marched away. We watched as her army parted to let her gallop through.

Jared and I stood there side by side not believing the sight in front of us. We watched as the battle ended. Her men followed after her leaving our few men confused. Soon all that was left was our men and hundreds and hundreds of corpses. When Saphrine's troops were out of sight the castle door opened.

The women stormed out holding weapons in their hands prepared for a fight. When they saw the retreating troops they smiled and dropped their makeshift weapons. They had heard the horn and decided that they wanted to fight for their home alongside their husbands, brothers, and sons. They had been prepared for the fight. But now there wasn't any need. The battle was finally over.

The war was over. We had won with the help of a new friend. A time of peace was in front of us.

Jared wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we walked together back into the castle.

Now there was an even bigger battle approaching. Liddy practically bounced up and down with a slip of paper in her hands.

"I have so many ideas!" She gushed. Jared and I shared a look. A double wedding was looming over us.