Death

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Akaidish approached them, his black shroud flapping in the thick and dusty wind.  His eyes glowed like fire and were fixed on the three of them.  He pursued in a straight line directly for them, arcing his sword and slicing down any giants who stood in his way.  Caro’s hands started to shake as she tried to grasp her daggers even more firmly.  She would need a sword soon. 

            None of the boys seemed to notice Akaidish approaching; it was just her and him.  All at one, Caro saw Genged sprint up to the dark lord, his sword held high in the air, getting ready to strike hard, when Akaidish turned and stopped the blow from the brave young warrior.  He took one hand and grabbed the boy’s face, and in one quick jerk Genged lay dead at his feet. 

            Caro couldn’t even scream.  She couldn’t even speak; she was so overcome with fear.  Noble then saw Akaidish and shouted to Seilen and Jon.  Only standing about fifteen yards from them, the evil king twisted two swords in his hands and smiled.

“Stay behind me,” Seilen told Caro.

            Where was Belbriv? Seilen ran straight towards Akaidish, screaming in anger, sword pointed straight for his neck.  Akaidish continued smiling as he walked, not intimidated in the least.  The dark one deflected Seilen’s thrust and cut his arm deep with his word.  Seilen let out a loud cry of pain as he fell to the ground.

“No!” Caro shouted, finally finding her voice.

            Where was Belbriv?

“I will finish you later,” Akaidish promised Seilen, who lay there in a pool of his own blood.

            He turned once again to the three, who stood ten yards away, staring at them with eyes full of hate.  He would kill all three of them with one strike of his sword.

“No matter what, the Light will win this war.” Noble encouraged them.

            They knew it was the end, whether for them or Akaidish, one of them would die.  But where was Belbriv? Caro did a quick search in every direction for her large friend but couldn’t see him anywhere.  Before she could think another thing, Akaidish had knocked Noble down with his sword, cutting his calf deep, and hit Jon on the head with the butt of his sword, knocking him down to the ground as well. 

            Caro fell backwards as Akaidish approached her, his sword dangling at his side.  He hovered over top of her, sweat and saliva dripping down on her.

“The weak never prosper,” he whispered.

            He held his sword just above her neck.  She wanted so badly to scream.  Where was Belbriv?! Akaidish had a wicked grin on his face.

“It’s too bad you couldn’t die fighting for a worthy cause,”

            Akaidish lifted his sword high to thrust it into her throat when a sword arced and cut his arm clean off at the shoulder.  He let out a blood-curdling shriek and spun around in vicious anger.  Noble had a sword raised to his neck now, sweat dripping from his face, breathing heavy.  Jon, his head bleeding from the blow, quickly grabbed ahold of Caro and helped her up.  He stood there, still dizzy from the blow, and held a sword to Akaidish’s stomach.

“It’s too bad you couldn’t die for a worthy cause.” Noble quoted.

            Akaidish looked back at the boy and started laughing.

“You have bravery; I love it!” he laughed.  “But you still have one weakness I see in your eyes…” Akaidish snickered.

            The evil giant spun around and, like a flash of lighting, he drove his sword into Jon’s stomach.  None of them reacted right away; they weren’t sure how to react.  Akaidish pulled the bloody sword out of the boy’s midsection and Jon fell backward into Caro.  Now, driven by such a great anger, Noble drove his sword straight into Akaidish’s back.  Again the dark one screamed in pain and fell to his knees.  Noble pulled his sword our and walked in front of Akaidish, lifting his sword towards his chest.

“The weak never prosper.” Akaidish said, coughing up blood.

            Noble looked at him with hatred-filled eyes.

“You keep telling yourself that.” Noble said, finishing him.

            Noble removed the sword from his dead enemy and kicked him over, then turned to see Caro holding Jon’s head in her lap. 

“You saved my life, Jon.” She whispered.

            He coughed and held his stomach where blood leaked out.

“If it had to be… one of us…”- another cough- “I wanted it… to be… me.”

            Tears now fell from both Caro and Noble’s eyes.

“You’ll be okay, we’ll find Belbriv and you’ll be alright,” Noble promised. 

            He started to try and pick him up but Jon shook his head.

“I’m not walking away from this one,” Jon looked at Caro.  “I want you to know… I have always loved you.”

            Caro laughed and smiled as tears continued to fall.

“I love you too,” she whispered.

            And she really meant it.  She knew she loved Jon, even despite what Seilen had tried.

“I love you too, Noble,” Jon told him.

            The three’s laughter was mixed with tears.

“We did it… we defeated him,” Jon reminded.

            But it didn’t bring much comfort.

“I hate this,” Noble cried, knowing Jon was dying and he couldn’t do anything.

“I can’t breathe, guys,” Jon stammered, gasping for a breath.

            Caro pushed him forward and Noble grabbed his legs and they both picked him up. 
“Hold on, Jon,” Caro told him.

            They weaved in and out of giants and falfreys, trying to dodge from being killed themselves to find Belbriv, but it was hopeless.  They got fifteen steps from where they were before Jon breathed one last breath.  Caro and Noble set him down and cried, both repeating his name but it was no use.  He was gone… it was over.

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