Unforgiven

The Sun King

Anodien's face was full of dirt and blood, most of the latter having belonged to the various Fae soldiers she'd slain on the field. Her breaths came in labored gasps, but still she did not give up. Her silver sword was a vicious tool, biting into her enemies with bloodthirsty intent. While she fought, someone pressed against her back. She did not need to turn around to know who it was: Legolas. With the knowledge that he was there, she continued to fight with renewed vigor.

"We need to go!" Legolas shouted above the clamor, decapitating a Fae with his shining steel blade. His hand rested briefly on Anodien's shoulder. "We need to cut the head off the snake, Anodien!"

"Atar," the Faeling hissed in reply, memories of abuse running through her head. "Follow me, I'll take you through the palace!" The two worked their way through the battlefield, taking down anything that stood in their way. The city was destroyed, the occasional rat or chicken skittering about. Besides that, there was no life. That didn't mean that the screaming out on the plains behind them had stopped, however.

"Lead the way." Anodien dipped her head and stepped through the streets swiftly, Legolas following faithfully behind.

...

"My precious daughter!" The ceiling shook with the force of Atar's wrath, and the fact that no one could see the source of the voice was slightly unnerving. That is, Atar was nowhere to be found. Wherever he was, he spoke again, though it came from an entirely different direction this time. "It's just wonderful that I get to see you again, after all these years."

"Be careful," Anodien whispered to Legolas, putting a hand on his before backing up to him. They circled around, keeping eyes on all exits. "You never know what he might do."

"I think I have an inkling," the Elf prince growled, eyeing the scar on her cheek.

The sound of harsh laughter echoed around the empty throne room, causing the hair on the backs of their necks to stand up straight. "You stole away that which I cared about, little mouse." The dark Fae could be anywhere, and that alone sent dread deep into Anodien's bones-- not to mention the fact that she was at last facing her father after centuries.

Her ears pricked up, ready to catch the slightest sound. Her senses went into overdrive. He was there, she knew that much. He was using his magic-- which was sadly far more advanced than hers. "Don't try to fool us, Atar," she growled. "You've only ever cared about one thing-- yourself." Another laugh from her father.

"Come out, you bastard!" Legolas hollered, his brows furrowed as he scanned the area. "What are you, a coward?!" The mocking tension in the room vanished instantly, replaced by a cold angry air.

"Anodien, you--" Legolas never finished his sentence. The king barrelled into the Elf, his sharp canine teeth bared in fury. Anodien screamed in dismay and didn't waste a second in going after him. However, Atar simply threw her off and glared.

"This is what you choose?" he growled, looking back and forth between his daughter and Legolas. He placed his boot over the Elf's neck, pushing down just hard enough to restrict breathing, but not so much that it would snap Legolas' neck. Anodien's lips curled up in a snarl as she picked herself up off the floor.

"Get away from him," she demanded, her fists clenched tightly. Atar paid no heed and pressed down harder on Legolas' throat. No matter how the Elf struggled, he could not get free.

"Take another step and the vermin dies." Anodien stopped in her tracks, silver-green eyes wide. Atar held out his hand, a burning flame appearing within. "Look at this, little mouse. Look at what you've done." Inside of the fire, Elves and Fae fought viciously. Countless bodies littered the ground, and what little could be seen of the earth beneath them was slicked with crimson blood.

Anodien ground her teeth together, eyes darting to Legolas. "No," she whispered. "It's not my fault." Atar abandoned the Ellon, left chained to the floor by white mystical shackles. His burning fist slammed into her jaw, and she cried out as she was again thrown to the ground. Her palm reached up to cradle the injury. Atar's silvery eyes glinted with pleasure, and his fingers clenched together.

Atar stormed over and grasped her chin, holding her jaw forcefully as he yanked her close to him. Her writhing around did nothing, and Legolas' furious shrieks behind Atar went ignored. The king's nostrils flared, and Anodien could feel the hot breath on her skin.

"You're nothing," he snarled, throwing the Faeling to the floor and kicking at her. The plan she and Legolas had come up with had been completely abandoned. As she fumbled for balance, he again went for her ribs. With the steel tips to his boots, it burned through the ebony chainmail and set her skin aflame. She held onto the aching parts of her body, groaning. "You are nothing, you traitorous half-breed," he repeated. He continued to throw insults at her while lashing out. Just as Anodien's mind threatened to drag her into unconsciousness, the constant beating suddenly vanished.

"Anodien!" The familiar sound of Legolas' voice gave her enough courage to look up, where a dagger was pressed against the king's throat. "Now!" With a loud shout, Atar's entire body was covered in bright yellow flames. Legolas staggered backwards, and without pause, was thrown against the wall. A loud crack rang throughout the throne room, and Anodien found a wordless scream tumbling from her lips.

The shock wore off, replaced instantly by rage. Anodien stood and grasped her blade, beginning to circle her father. He followed her steps, and the two royals' movements resembled a pair of cats preparing for a fight. "Mutant," Atar murmured darkly, hand held up defensively. "Don't pretend you're suddenly a holy seraphim, Anodien. Don't forget, I raised you. I molded you." His lips curled up into something reminiscent of a hateful smile. "And you're just like me... you're mine."

"What makes you think my life is yours?!" She swallowed her trepidation and straightened up, gathering her courage. At last, she was done. She was done dealing with Atar's abuse, with his lies and dirty tricks. No more passive-aggressive attitude towards him, it was time to stand up and face her past. "That I'm not my own person?!" Here, her eyes flicked to Legolas' unmoving form briefly. "I've learned more in the past decade than the millennia I spent under your thumb. No one has to be like you.

"Especially not me." Anodien's movements were swift and automatic. One hand was wrapped around the king's throat while the other tore the weapon from his grasp. Her skin grew hot, leaving dark burns into Atar's skin. "Not anymore." She tore the amulet from his neck, leaving him defenseless. For the first time in her life, she saw delicious fear in his silver eyes. Her fingers all clenched Atar's throat tightly, and his flailing was for naught.

"I'm nothing like you." Red. That was all she was anymore. Red. Her hair went from a deep brown to a vibrant scarlet, her skin glowed and smoked. The ebony armor at her hands melted away, dripping down the king's skin without harming her at all. Fire crackled at her fingertips, and she tightened her grip to crush her father's windpipes.

Adrenaline surged through the princess as she finally faced her father. Anodien threw him to the ground with a scream, and though Atar's mouth opened for a reply, no sound came out. The damage Anodien had caused to his neck prevented any kind of noise. "You can't hurt me anymore." The crimson fire from Anodien's arms shot towards the Fae king. The flesh melted from his bones, blackening and peeling away. After what seemed like an eternity of forced shrieks, the king's body crumbled into a tiny charred shape on the floor.

At last, nothing was left of Atar Sunborn. Anodien looked down at the crippled mass, tiny and unimposing. The fire began to creep up the curtains and caught the rug, and waves continued to emanate from her body. The energy drained away from her limbs, and all she could do was stare at her dead father coldly before falling to her knees. It was over. At long last, it was over.

The cost of her deed was proving to be too much. Her head spun, and she slumped to the broken floor beside her father and Legolas. Anodien had no regrets. She had achieved the one thing she'd ever longed to do, and that alone was comfort enough. The world was saved, her vengeance achieved.

She felt no need to stay any longer. Her eyes closed, and the spark within her heart faded away. Without ceremony, the Flame Princess let go.