The Duel
What is this all about, you wonder. I have to admit, I am not really sure myself. It has something to do with a Destiny that I do not understand but am intricately a part of. Yes. That is "Destiny" with a capital "D." I can barely see the Greenman as we sprint like frightened gazelles, dodging low hanging branches and stumbling over tree roots. I am not surprised by this. After all, the Greenman is made from the very forest we run through. I believe he took a humanoid shape to better communicate with me. Strange how the mind races faster than the body. At last, we reach the clearing with the cave. I stop dead in my tracks when I see it... him. The Last Unicorn. So beautiful. So white. How could anyone want to hunt and kill such a marvelous creature? He regards me silently with an impassive curiosity. He does not know the danger he is in. I do not know how to tell him. Instead, I turn to the Greenman. "Into the cave. Both of you. I will stop the Hunter. Do not come out for any reason." I am startled at my words and the conviction with which I speak them. Then again, I have no choice. I will stop the Hunter. I must. Or all is lost. The Last Unicorn paws the ground in confusion. He wants to know what is going on. But, the Greenman ushers him into the cave. Even the Last Unicorn cannot deny the wishes of the Forest Spirit. I watch as he grows a thorny door over the cave entrance. One last precaution, in case I fail. I cannot fail! The thought pulses through my veins. I must not. I will not! As I turn from the cave with its thorny impasse, I note that I am now wearing a white dress that I have never seen before. Yet, it is intimately familiar. White. I wonder if I am to be a sacrifice. Is that my role in this grand scheme? I have no more time to ponder my fate as it is now upon me. Out of the forest comes the Hunter on his black warhorse. He vaults from it with an enviable grace to land scant meters from me. The horse turns and disappears into the forest as I stare with shock. I know this man. This Hunter. It is James. My friend. I frown, confused. Then, his guise changes before my eyes - once... twice... into two other friends - Rob and Alex. Then, it settled back into the familiar form of James. How can this be? Does he steal memories from my mind or is he truly representative of some of my dearest friends? He regards me with open distain, this man who looks to be, but is not my friend, James. His garb is that of a Renaissance man. His dark beard is neatly trimmed and the hilt of his bejeweled sword twinkles like starlight. Suddenly, he laughs. It is a callous, condescending sound. I know what he is thinking as he draws his sword. I know, because I am thinking it, too. I have no hope of winning this battle. He is too good. I do not know how to sword fight, much less even have a sword. I am weaponless, save that of my wits and bare hands. Still, I must try. There is no other choice. He advances upon me, striking at the air near me. I dodge away. It is all I can do. He taunts me, playing with me. I gasp in pain as an easy thrust strikes true, leaving a crimson trail down my arm. He has not said a word, but his actions speak louder than any words could. They tell me of his cruel, callous nature. His need of power. His want to destroy. Now, I understand how this man could seek to kill such a being as the Last Unicorn. I sense him growing bored of this game. Even with my desperate dance to evade his bright blade, I am too easy a prey. In a sudden, quick motion, he strikes me in the face and I tumble to the ground, exhausted. But I am not willing to give up, yet. There is a clang of metal to dirt as I roll to my stomach intending to push myself up again. Instead, I find myself looking at the hilt of a sword that has been tossed to me. My eyes follow the line of the sword to its owner. It is a woman in a long blue gown. One that appears to be my friends Laurel, Lisa and Johanna all at the same time. How can this be? Where did she come from? One moment she was not there. The next, she was. The woman's features settle into that of Laurel. Laurel and James are beloved of each other. I wonder if there is a similar connect between the Hunter and this woman. As I scramble to my feet, sword held awkwardly in hand, my unspoken question is answered. The Hunter stands there, anguish filling his eyes as he looks to the woman. He looks as if he wants to speak, but then his eyes harden as she remains impassive. He looks to me, anger fueling his determination. No more games. No more feints. This is it. Suddenly, it becomes what it was always supposed to be. A duel to the death. Destiny has taken over. I am fighting for the Greenman and the Last Unicorn. My purpose is clear. I do not know what he fights for. Bright blades flashed in the noonday sun as the sound of metal to metal breaks the hushed silence of the forest. I do not know where I gained the knowledge to fight the Hunter one on one. Perhaps it is the sword or perhaps, the woman. Perhaps, I am merely Destiny's pawn. None of that matters now. All of Eternity has waited for this moment as the Universe holds its breath and watches. With a lucky strike to the ribs I am able to punch the Hunter with enough force to spin him around, leaving his unprotected back open to me. At this instant, it unexpectedly becomes my choice. At this instant, I have total free will to do as I choose. I drive the blade into his heart through his back and I know I have done it by my Will alone. He falls to his knees, dropping his sword as I hold mine within him. It is so sudden. I feel no elation even though I know I have saved something infinitely precious. Tears course down my face as the Hunter and I both look up to the woman who still stands there - impassively watching. I step back, pulling my sword from the Hunter's body as he reaches out a bloody hand towards the woman then crumples to the ground in an inelegant heap. He is dead. My sword softly clinks beside him as it falls from my unfeeling fingers. I look to the woman for a long moment and know that she does not see me. Then, I see for the first time, emotion enter her face. She looks to her fallen Hunter with an infinite sadness that breaks my heart. It is as if she knew all along this would happen, and though she did love him, she had had her own part to play. Finally, she looks to me, dark eyes moist. Suddenly, my heart lightens as she touches me within... forgives me for my part in the death of the Hunter. She knows why I did what I did. Then, she lifts her chin, her eyes flicking to something beyond me. I turn to see the Greenman and the Last Unicorn slowly exit the cave. Their eyes are upon the woman. When I look back to her again, she is gone. I turn to the Greenman and the Last Unicorn, but they, too, have disappeared. All that is left is the dead body of the Hunter. And, as I somehow expected, it fades into nothingness before my eyes. I look to the forest around me, body throbbing from the still bleeding cuts on my arm and breast bone. I wonder aloud, "What now?" Unexpectedly, the wind picks up and as leaves whirl around me, I hear the word, "Live...." breathed into my ears. It is both a wish and a command. "Live." I murmur to myself with a smile. "Seems simple enough." But, even as I speak the words, I know that nothing is ever as simple as it seems and I will never forget what happened on this day.
All stories, scenes, works and poetry owned by Eden Blackthorn
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