Legend

Seventeen- Destroyed, the Cruel One

She was done with her words, and her time was near.

She could feel the lure of Returning, yet there was no bitterness with it; she had done her work, and the path she walked in was fulfilled.

Even then that night when the Cruel One's claws dug deep into her throat there was no remorse, for the prophecy had been acted upon.

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Five moons from Ximena's age Vadik was insecure, for the words was instilled deep in his dark heart; for even as he turned a deaf ear to Her warnings he did not forget the threat.

There he sought for the children, and slayed all who were born on the night of Ximena's death.

He despised her word, and did not trust it; yet in him was Fear, and it ruled over him and drove him to the brink of insanity.

In the days he lay half-slumbering in his lair, a tangle-furred dark beast that ripped at all life that was within his reach;

At night he prowled with bloodshot eyes into the wilderness, sidled in the shadows, for brightness gave him only pain.

It was that night of the full moon She came upon him, yet so great was his darkness, so shadowed his heart that it stood in her way as a barrier of swords, and she could only call out to him, saying:

Vadik! Vadik! My chosen ruler, the victorious!

What have you done?

It was moments of silence, and the darkness only grew greater when he turned his red eyes on her, saying:

What I have done?

Do you not know full well, my creator? Have you not said," I knitted you in your womb, and set you on the right path?"

You have put me to be King. You have let me sit as the most high and looked down upon my brothers. You have given me triumph over the men, our foes.

Surely, surely you know the answer.

It was life that you gave me, and life was what you gave to my brothers.

Yet she was in a rage, and fire only blazed in her path that shattered the darkness with the radiance:

You insolent boy;

How dare you to test me, your Creator.

You speak to me as it, but I can see your deeper thoughts; and they think naught of my name.

You have slayed all men in the battles; and merciless when they begged for their life;

You tore the homes to the blind and crippled, and set the women's looms on flames;

And even as you are great you defied my people; Ximena was who you killed, and the lives of children were taken.

Was there a time when you listened to my commands? Was there a time you paid heed to the warnings?

Alas, no, it is not so;

For your brothers, your devoted brothers, have called to me in their helplessness, and they shall be heard.

Your time has come, and yet you cannot return!

You have been condemned to death, and to death you shall slave upon!

Born dead and dead again, and crawl among the flames and brimstone; this is the punishment you so deserve!

How much death have you dealt to the people? How much wails have you forced from their throats?

It is now taken from you; all the power, all the fear, all your strength.

I do not know you; for you have been forsaken.

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It has been said that the Forsaken One was taken and cast to death in the midnight of the full moon; yet his body was thrown to rot in the moonlit stream;

and only, only on that night, was the birth of the Awaited One.

Dedication to the new read from KieraSnow!:D