She's Alright, I Guess

VII: Battle

Janai returned to the bottom of the Spire alongside Amaya. They only had to wait an hour before the slow marching of the dark mage's army echoed toward them. Janai readied her line, and Amaya joined in with another human at her side.

Suddenly, a loud yell erupted from a mutant soldier, who barreled in their direction. Janai braced her warriors before commanding them to drop their shields.

They held the line despite the numerous numbers of dark soldiers grappling against the shields.

Janai was thrown back and the sound of an explosion left ringing in her ears, but she kept on. Janai surged forward with her armies, pushing the dark forces behind the line. Amaya jumped in to fill a gap left by a fallen warrior. Janai briefly caught her gaze in the midst of battle, and she smiled momentarily.

Then, in less than a second, Amaya was thrown into her by a larger, more erratic dark soldier. Amaya signed the words, "I'm ok," before the other human pulled her aside to recover quickly.

Janai growled angrily, and her rage took over in a blaze. Janai charged at the monster soldier. She grappled and slashed at him, but succumbed quickly. She recovered when she heard the sound of reinforcements, the dragons.

The mighty dragons darted throughout the sky, sending a rain of fire down on the dark forces. For a moment, elven forces pushed the mutants back.

These mutants soon grew more powerful, and the elven line fell. These dark beings grew more powerful with fire, like the magic the dark mage stole from the Sunfire Elves.

Janai and few others continued fighting, but the forces pushed through them. From high above her, Janai could hear the crackle of lightning as Callum fought the climbing beasts. Then, something changed again, and arrows pelted down from the skies.

A new human force moved in, raining arrows on the remaining dark forces. They had won. Janai and the others cheered, and she caught sight of Amaya, smiling proudly.

. . .

Janai and Amaya climbed on their mount to join the others once they finished the work below. Many humans and elves were graciously carried by the dragons to the top of the Spire, where Callum would help them to breathe before letting them enter the cavern.

Janai felt the weight of Amaya much more than before, and her aching muscles were near on collapsing. When they arrived at the entrance, Callum greeted them both. Janai and Amaya walked together inside, but pulled apart to reunite with their friends.

When the young human, whom Janai now knew as King Ezran, walked through, she greeted him with radiance and a bow. He returned a salute before moving forward to greet others.

Last of all, the Dragon Prince, Azymondias, happily greeted King Ezran. For a few moments, everyone celebrated happily, then a great rumbling echoed into the cavern. The dragonling and others ran to the Dragon Queen's Lair. Janai joined them and watched as Queen Zubeia's gaze caught her son's small eyes.

Janai listened intently, discretely wiping tears as the Dragon Queen spoke. Soon after Callum and the Moonshadow elf, well Rayla, joined hands, Janai felt a soft punch on her shoulder.

Reluctantly, the Golden Knight held out her hand, and Amaya's hand joined it. Janai's face reddened as they gazed, smiling at the majesty of the Dragon Queen.

. . .