The Warrior Prince

Fall of Benola

Valeria walked quietly through the halls of her prison. She was not in a cell, but she was trapped within the castle grounds. The woman didn't doubt for a moment that Duncan would carry out his threat if she left. The woman knew she couldn't protect everyone but was glad at least Rebecca and her daughter had made it safely out of the kingdom. At least they would be spared from the king's foolishness.

She was almost to the staircase when Valeria heard a scream from outside. Quickly she rushed to the window to see what was wrong. Lady Valeria gasped as her blue eyes fell on a sea of warriors descending on the castle from several directions. The warriors of Zandell had arrived and from the look of the way they were attacking mercy was not on their minds.

Valeria turned away from the window and ran for her room. The blonde woman knew that she'd die, but the woman had no intention of going down without a fight. Running as fast as she could Valeria reached her room and pulled out the sword she'd hidden behind the large headboard. With her sword in hand, Valeria left her room, determined to protect those that she cared about for as long as possible.

The blonde woman heard the clash of swords long before she ever saw anyone. Women and children were running past her, away from the fighting, while she hurried towards it. Her heart rate increased as the sound of metal grew louder the closer she got to the fight. Valeria took a deep breath knowing her death awaited her. Reaching the banister she froze and her eyes widened seeing so many men in heated battle. Soon a maid and her child trapped against the wall by the stairway landing caught her attention. The maid was terrified, but tried to keep her daughter from getting hurt. Valeria knew she had to save them. The blonde woman raced down the first set of stairs to where the maid and her child were trapped. Quickly she attacked the nearest warrior between the maid and herself. She forced the warrior back before forcing the second to retreat as well.

"Go Marie!" Valeria ordered. The maid didn't hesitate; she grabbed her child and ran for the stairs ascending them quickly. Once they were safe Valeria returned her gaze to the fight before her.

"Put down the sword," Prince Balin said walking up the stairs toward her. "It would be a shame to hurt something so beautiful." His walk was confident but not exactly powerful or dangerous. In a way it was arrogant. He'd already decided he'd won the battle before their swords had ever touched.

Valeria had to fight the urge to laugh. The man clearly underestimated her. "While I appreciate the compliment I will not lower my sword so easily," she said in open defiance. Valeria watched him as he neared her and prepared to surprise him.

"Then I shall have to simply disarm you," he said amused by the well-dressed noble woman.

"You can try," she retorted.

The prince went to move at her but Valeria was ready. Their swords clanged violently and what began as the prince trying to disarm her became a battle of skill. Slash after slash they deflected each other's strikes until Valeria ripped the sword out of the prince's grip. The warrior was more than a little shocked as he fell to the ground after losing his sword.

"It's never wise to underestimate your opponent," Valeria replied, pointing the tip of her sword at her opponent.

"No, it is not." Balin watched as his eldest brother stepped onto the landing.

"Who are you?" Prince Lothar asked looking at the blonde woman. When he had seen her the previous day he had assumed she was a noble. After seeing her fight however he was not sure. Though dressed as a woman of noble birth her fencing and stance she held were not of a helpless lady.