It Begins Again
Alarianna felt utterly helpless. She was bound and gagged and worst of all, Banor had put a lock on all of her Talents. She could not even communicate with Eldric. Eldric! Her heart stopped at the thought of him. His handsome face, his strong body... He was riding to save her, riding straight into a trap, just as he had in so many lifetimes before. Alarianna cursed herself for not being stronger. "Ah. And here is the Champion now." Alarianna was jerked out of her revery by the smug voice of Banor. As she looked, she saw a battle-worn but still proud and noble man approaching the hill that had been the site of so many battles before. His steed showed signed of hard riding. Alarianna struggled against her bonds. "Shh. There, there M'Lady. It will all be over soon. Your Champion rides to save you. And he rides to his death. Once again, I will be victorious!" Alarianna strained harder. Suddenly she was roughly seized and thrust into the arms of a waiting guard. "See that she does not escape. It will mean a very painful death for all of you." he told the three standing there in a voice that betrayed no hint of mercy. He looked as if he was going to say something to her, then decided against it. Instead, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and turned away. As Banor walked toward the now standing figure, he stopped. "Well, just to be sure." With that, he gathered his Will and sent a bolt of energy at Alarianna's unprotected mind that knocked her unconscious. When Alarianna regained consciousness, she felt as if she had been unconscious for hours, though she knew it could not have been for more than twenty minutes or so. She was lying on the ground behind the guards who were intently watching the ongoing battle. She quietly began to work her bonds against a rock. The battle raged furiously; mind to mind, sword to sword. Neither side showed the weakness they were beginning to feel. "You will let her go. I came as you demanded, now keep your promise!" Eldric said through clenched teeth as he parried a thrust from Banor. "No, I don't think so. I've grown rather fond of Lady Alarianna. I enjoy her company. Even if she does have to stay in chains." Banor barely got out as he dodged a vicious thrust of Eldric's sword. "I will kill you!" "And save your Lady? No, my dear Champion, you will not! I have killed you before and I will kill you again. You always come running to save your Lady. Lifetime after lifetime we have fought battle upon battle and each time one has died. All for the love of a lady." "Yes, I've died for the love of a lady. But what have you died for, Banor?" The battle rage on. Alarianna worked to bonds harder and a bright trickle of blood blossomed against her white skin where the rope cut into her wrist. Both warriors were beginning to weaken. The final blow would soon come. If only she could get herself free in time! Eldric seemed to be gaining on Banor. The tide was turning. "You must remember Champion,... I still have one last... trick!" Banor spit out between gasps for breath. "I still have your lady!" "You won't for long!" was the gasped retort. "Then neither will you. Kill her!" He flicked the command over his shoulder at the guards. "Nooo!" cried Eldric as he involuntarily looked at the guards. This was the opening Banor was looking for. He made the killing blow. Alarianna's bonds broke free in the same instant Banor's sword pierced Eldric's body just below his heart. Eldric's death cry was matched by Alarianna's cry of anguish. "Leave her!" snapped Banor as one of the guards moved to intercept her as she ran to Eldric's still form. Alarianna cradled Eldric's body as his life blood rushed out of him like an angry red river. It covered the ground and soaked her dress. "Alarianna..." "Shh, my love. I'm here." "I love you..." He started coughing up blood. "We will met again..." "No, don't leave me!" sobbed Alarianna. "We will meet again, I promise you." "I love you, Eldric. Please, please. You'll be ok..." "Alarianna, I lov-- " Silence. Alarianna looked at Eldric and saw the light in his blue-green eyes fade as the life passed out of his body. "My God, Eldric!" She sobbed, hugging his lifeless body. "There is no God, Lady. Only Destiny." wearily said Banor, bringing Alarianna's attention back to him. Alarianna looked at him with such hatred that Banor drew back. And with the power of that hatred mixed with the power of the love she felt for her soul mate, Alarianna broke the lock that had confined her Talents. "Then it is your Destiny to die." She said quietly. So quietly he almost didn't hear her. Alarianna gathered all the power of both her hatred and her love. With all her Will, she threw a bolt of energy at so strong, that even if he had not been weakened from the battle, he would have perished. Alarianna watched dispassionately as Banor's body burned. The guards had all fled when Banor's body burst into flame. She was alone. Like so many times before. Alarianna looked around her. As she looked at the bodies of her Eternal Foe and her Eternal Love, she felt an overwhelming sense of despair. "Why?!" She cried to the unfeeling sky."Why must it be so?" No one answered her. Then, the Cycle continued on... to begin again...
(Written for Robert Hill, Dec 92)
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