The moment the signal is given, the guards and bandits surge forward at full speed, their weapons raised high as they charge toward each other. The collision of the two walls of bandits and guards marks the official commencement of the battle. In the chaos, arrows and bolts fill the air as the archers on both sides take aim. Meanwhile, the swordsmen fiercely slash and clash with one another, while axes are hurled across the battlefield by the bandits and guards. Each side utilizes any weapon at their disposal in their desperate struggle for victory. Merig's steady hand draws back the bowstring, his eyes fixed on Cormac. He releases the arrow, but it narrowly misses Cormac’s head. In response, Cormac swiftly raises his crossbow and fires, but Merig sidesteps the incoming bolt. Determined, Merig strides through the bustling battlefield, closing in on Cormac, who is hastily preparing to fire another arrow. Cormac leaps off the crate and sprints to dodge Merig's pursuit. As Ashley carefully loads her cylinder with fire crystals, Larry stands protectively by her side, ready to defend her. Suddenly, a group of bandits charges at them, but Larry swiftly steps in, wielding his swords with precision to battle the oncoming attackers. Meanwhile, Ashley finishes loading her cylinder and unleashes a powerful burst of fire, sending the bandits reeling back in an explosive wave of flames. As the intense combat unfolds on the surface, a parallel confrontation transpires underground. Barth unleashes a relentless flurry of spells, each crackling with raw energy, while Gordo deftly evades them, closing in to deliver swift, punishing strikes with his knuckles. Meanwhile, Barth channels his magical prowess, gathering power for his next formidable onslaught. Kate’s hands remain tightly bound behind her back as she watches the battle unfold. Gordo charges at Barth with fierce determination, landing a powerful punch to Barth’s gut that knocks the wind out of him, causing him to stumble backward. Barth gasps for air, steadying himself before summoning a large, shimmering ice spear. Gordo darts around the room with agility, searching for an advantage. Barth scans for an opening, and with precise aim, launches the ice spell. It strikes Gordo’s legs, instantly freezing him in place. Gordo struggles against the ice, muscles straining, but can't break free. Their eyes lock, filled with intensity and exhaustion, as they pant heavily from the grueling fight.

(G)Damn you Barth, let me out of here!

(B)Sorry, Gordo, I can’t do that. I need to get Kate out of here. Merig is here. I can smell him.

Barth moves closer to Gordo to retrieve the cell door keys from him. As he approaches, Gordo draws back his fists and rapidly throws a flurry of punches. Caught off guard, Barth dodges the blows and quickly backs away. Gordo, fists still raised, gives Barth a menacing smile, threatening him with each step forward.

(G)[chuckles] I still have my arms free.

Barth steps forward again, and Gordo draws back his fist for another punch. This time, Barth catches Gordo’s fist in his hands and conjures an ice spell, freezing it solid. Gordo throws a punch with his other hand, but Barth catches that one too, bringing both of Gordo's hands together and freezing them, rendering them useless. Barth then rummages through Gordo’s pockets, searching for the keys to the cell and handcuffs. Finding the keys, Barth walks over to the cell and unlocks it. He opens the door and steps inside, smiling at Kate as he approaches. Moving behind her, he unlocks her restraints, setting her free. Kate looks up at Barth, and they smile at each other before wrapping their arms around each other in a hug. Kate pulls away and thanks Barth for rescuing her.

(K)Thank you, Barth, I’m glad you’re okay.

(B)Never mind that. Let’s just get you out of here, shall we?

(K)[smiles] We shall.

Barth's hand reaches out for Kate's, firmly grasping it as they make a dash out of the cell, leaving Gordo behind. Gordo's voice echoes after them as they reach the entrance, stealing a glance back to see him still frozen in place with a look of concern etched on his face. His voice trembles with fear as he calls out to them.

(G)You have no idea what you’re doing, Barth!

(B)Yeah, I do and hopefully one day you’ll understand. Maybe after this is over, you can come with us to the city and live a better life like we always talked about. At least that’s my plan.

(G)Whatever, just get the hell out of here and take Cormac down.

Barth acknowledges Gordo with a quick nod as he and Kate hastily make their way out of the underground chamber to guide her towards the ongoing battle above ground and retrieve her Merig. Outside, the fierce fight ensues as Merig relentlessly pursues Cormac across the open field, unleashing a volley of arrows. Meanwhile, Cormac masterfully evades the airborne onslaught, turning to counter with his own crossbow. The exchange continues until one of Merig's arrows grazes Cormac's left arm, drawing blood and eliciting a cry of pain. In retaliation, Cormac fires a bolt back at Merig, prompting him to swiftly dodge the projectile. Taking advantage of the distraction, Cormac blends into the sea of bandits to address his wound, calling upon his most formidable allies for assistance. As the bandits encircle him, blocking Merig's path, a forceful skirmish erupts. Amidst the chaos, Merig narrowly evades a thrown axe and is compelled to flee from the assailant, inciting a pursuit by the bandits. With a swift and calculated move, Merig halts and aims an arrow, successfully bringing down one of the pursuing bandits, and leaving him incapacitated. With the immediate threat neutralized, Merig hastens back to ensure the safety of Larry and Ashley.

(M)How are you two holding up?

(L)Doing just fine, Commander! How about you?

(M)Cormac hid behind his cronies like the coward he is and they won’t let me get to him.

(L)So this is the new Cormac, huh? Running away when he knows he's losing? Completely different from the Cormac we knew when we were still here.

(M)Seems like it to me. I’m going to go look for Kate. Are you two going to be okay here?

(A)We’ll be fine, Merig, go find her and bring her back here safely.

(L)Yeah, we got this, go get Kate.

(M)Alright, I shouldn’t be long, her scent is getting stronger.

As Merig sprints past Larry and Ashley, his eyes lock onto a clear opening amidst the chaos of the fight. He darts through it, his senses heightened as he detects the unmistakable scent of Kate in the air. Following the trail, he forges ahead with determination. Meanwhile, Barth and Kate flee from the underground chamber, their hearts pounding as they weave through the dense trees of the forest. After what feels like an eternity, they come to a sudden halt, gazing ahead to witness the intense battle unfolding before them.

(B)Holy shit, the fight, that means Merig is here.[sniff] I can smell him.

(K)We should go around and find him. I hope he’s okay, Ashley and Larry, too. They’re all very skilled fighters, but I still worry.

(B)It’ll be fine, I’m sure they’re okay. Let’s not draw attention and go around, come on.

Barth carefully tracks Merig's scent, following the faint trail through the dense clearing as he and Kate push through the underbrush, desperate to evade the pursuing bandits and guide Kate to safety. Meanwhile, Merig races through the same forested expanse, relying on his acute sense of smell to pinpoint Kate's location. With each step, her scent grows more distinct, urging him on as he desperately calls out to her through the dense foliage.

(M)KATE! WHERE ARE YOU?!

As they continue their run, Barth and Kate soon spot a figure in the distance. With anticipation, Barth comes to a halt, and Kate soon catches up, standing by his side. The sound of Merig's voice calling out to Kate fills the air, adding to the rising tension. A sense of excitement washes over Kate as Merig draws closer, prompting her to call out to him with all her might, ensuring that he cannot miss her presence.

(K)Merig? MERIG!

(M)KATE!

Kate catches sight of Merig and darts past Barth, sprinting as fast as she can to reach him. Merig notices Kate running toward him, swiftly putting his bow away on his back and matching her pace. As they draw closer, both of them break into smiles, and they open their arms wide for each other. Merig slows down as he nears Kate, and she leaps into his embrace, holding each other tightly. They take a moment to relish their reunion, both overwhelmed with happiness. Merig then gently pulls away, briefly examining Kate for any wounds, all the while speaking to her in a frantic yet tender voice.

(M)Sweetheart, you’re okay? I’m here to take you home.

(K)I’m just fine, my love, I knew you’d find me!

(M)Of course, I did. I wasn’t going to stop until you were in my arms. Are sure you’re okay? Are you hurt?

(K)No, my love, I’m fine, what about you?

(M)Don’t worry about me. As long as you’re alive, I’m just fine. I was more worried about you, but I’m so glad you’re okay.

(K)Well, I’m alive thanks to Barth.

(M)Barth?

Merig looks up and stares into the distance. He sees Barth slowly catching up to the two as he approaches them. A look of surprise and a slight smile play on Merig's face as he gazes at Barth. Meanwhile, Barth is panting from his run, but eventually catches his breath. He looks over at Merig with a smile, clearly happy to see his brother after so long.

(B)Hey, little brother, it’s been a long time.

(M)Yeah, ten years, and you’ve been here this entire time? I bet Cormac threatened you, just like he did with Larry and I.

(B)I hope you put money on that bet, cause you’d be right. I had to stay here, so he didn’t come after you two. But after ten years, he went along with it regardless when he heard you and Kate were together. He was pissed and started preparing for this fight and wanted to kidnap Kate, so I told him I was leaving. I had to protect you and Kate, and I was for a while, but he and his cronies captured me and brought me back here.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

(M)I had a feeling that it was you that I saw in the forest when that bandit attacked me. And the scorch marks I saw on the trees were from when you tried fighting back when they caught you, right?

(B)Yep, that was all me. Sorry, I didn’t reveal myself to you. I thought you were mad at me this whole time because I stayed at the camp. I could’ve saved you all this trouble and told you what was going on. But I, being the big brother, wanted to do what I could to protect you and Kate so you both could live in peace.

(M)Thank you, Barth, I owe you one. And thank you for bringing Kate back to me.

(B)Don’t worry about it, she was locked in a cell and I just wanted to get her out and get her to you safely. But she’s here now, so we can talk later. Let’s focus on getting this situation taken care of. We have to fight, Cormac.

(M)Kind of hard to do that when he ran and hid when I scratched him with one of my arrows.

(B)That’s the new Cormac for you. In that case, let’s just get Kate to safety and finish this.

(M)Right, come on, sweetheart. I’m taking you home when all this is over.

(K)Okay, my love, let’s go.

Merig tightly clasps Kate's hand as they, accompanied by Barth, carefully maneuver around the chaos of the battle, and gradually make their way towards Larry and Ashley. At the same time, Cormac meticulously tends to his arm, preparing himself to rejoin the fray. With his crossbow loaded and at the ready, he scans the battlefield, hoping to catch a glimpse of Merig. Upon spotting his wooden crate, Cormac swiftly positions himself on top of it to gain a better vantage point, scouring the area in all directions and using his keen sense of smell to track down Merig's scent. Suddenly, off in the distance, Cormac catches sight of Merig, Kate, and Barth dashing through the clearing, which only serves to stoke his already smoldering fury. With a decisive intent, just as the trio appears to be about to escape his reach, Cormac issues a command for one of the ogre bandits to obstruct their path.

(C)Merig is getting away with that human! Get one of the ogres over here to stop him!

An ogre bandit abruptly breaks through the chaotic brawl, charging at Merig with his massive hammer. Merig quickly notices the looming threat and halts, still clutching Kate's hand as Barth swiftly moves to their side. With a deft shove, Merig propels Kate out of harm's way, causing her to stagger backward. Barth reacts promptly, reaching out to steady Kate and carefully guiding her away from the escalating confrontation. Meanwhile, the ogre advances, unleashing formidable swings of his colossal hammer at Merig, who struggles to evade the onslaught. Despite his efforts to arm himself with his bow, the ogre's relentless speed hinders Merig from mounting a counterattack.

(K)Barth, we have to help him. He’s gonna get hurt.

(B)If we go near him, that hammer could kill all three of us. Merig is lucky he’s as fast as he is, or he’d be crushed. We have to go around.

(K)No, I’m not leaving him!

Kate's body wiggles and squirms as she breaks free from Barth's grasp. Her eyes glowing with arcane energy, she channels her magical power and unleashes a crackling lightning spell that strikes the ogre, hurling him backward. Using his massive hammer to steady himself, the ogre fixes a menacing gaze on Kate, drawing nearer with his weapon raised. Sensing the impending danger, Merig swiftly notches an arrow, takes aim at the charging ogre, and releases it with a twang. The arrow hurtles through the air and skewers the ogre in the head, bringing him crashing to the ground in a motionless heap. Cormac, witnessing the dramatic turn of events, seethes with fury, his face a mask of anger as he growls and shouts in frustration.

(C)Damn you! Fine, if that’s how it’s going to be, then I guess I have no choice.

Cormac aims his loaded crossbow at Kate and fires. Merig, with his sharp eyes, spots the bolt hurtling towards her. He reacts swiftly, dropping his bow and sprinting towards Kate. Barth also sees the bolt and lunges to shield Kate as Merig closes the distance. Merig throws himself in front of Kate and Barth, taking the full brunt of the oncoming bolt. The flying bolt slams into Merig's torso, impaling him. Blood wells up instantly. Merig, in shock, looks down at the embedded bolt, the pain starting to register. He clutches his wound, doubling over as his legs give way. He crashes to the ground, landing on his back. Barth hears the thud and releases Kate, his face twisted in horror as he looks at Merig sprawled on the ground. Kate turns to see Merig and lets out a scream as she witnesses him lying impaled, his body wracked with pain.

(K)MERIG! NO!

(B)Merig!

Kate bolts to Merig's side, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Reaching Merig, she throws herself down on her knees. With a surge of adrenaline, she scoops him up, cradling his upper body. Merig lets out a choked gasp as his face contorts in pain. Each ragged breath rasps in his throat. Kate panics while choking back a scream. She pleads with Merig, her words tumbling over each other. Unable to bear the silence any longer, she throws her head back and lets out a bone-chilling cry for help.

(K)Merig, no stay with me, my love, you’re going to be okay. SOMEONE HELP, PLEASE!

The fight shrieks to a halt. Kate's cries and screams tear through the battlefield, all eyes snapping to her, cradling a critically injured Merig. Ashley and Larry, yanked by the sound of Kate's screams, weave through the crowd, bursting into the clearing where they see Kate holding Merig. They barrel towards them, panic clawing at their throats as they see the bolt speared through Merig's torso.

(A)Holy shit! Merig!

(L)WHO DID THIS?!

(B)It was Cormac!

(L)WHAT THE HELL, CORMAC?!

Larry, Ashley, Kate, and Barth direct their focus toward Cormac, their expressions etched with scowls that betray their fury. Merig, wracked by a violent cough that produces a bloody expulsion, gasps for breath. Kate, her attention drawn back to him, tenderly turns his head towards hers. As she gently caresses his cheek, more tears well up in her eyes.

(K)Merig, no, I’m here. We’re going to get you some help. Please don’t die, my love.

(M)[coughs] I’m…sorry Kate, I…had to…I told you…I’d p-protect you…[grunts] even if it meant…m-my life.

(K)No, don't you be sorry, Merig, everything is going to be okay. You’re going to live. I promise I won’t let you die. Someone, please help him!

(M)K-Kate.

(K)What is it, my love?

Kate gazes down at Merig, tears welling in her eyes and spilling down her face. Merig offers her a weak smile and reaches a hand up to touch her cheek gently. Despite the grunts and struggles for breath wracking his body, punctuated by coughs of blood, Merig musters the strength to speak again.

(M)[grunts] I…love you…s-so much…thank you…for everything…I’ll…always…b-be with you.[coughs]

(K)I love you, too, Merig. Please don’t leave me. I’ll be so miserable without you. We’ll take you to Nessa and she’ll take care of you, okay?

(M)[smiles] Ashley…Larry…Barth…th-they’ll take…good c-care of you, and…you take c-care of…everyone in Tara…okay?

(K)Merig please, don’t die on me.

Ashley, Larry, and Barth watch, tears streaming down their faces, as Merig speaks to Kate. They know they're powerless to save him. Kate's tears flow freely as she looks down at Merig. A slow smile lingers on his face as his eyelids flutter closed. His hand slips from Kate's cheek, falling limp to the ground. The smile fades as Merig lets out a final breath, dying in Kate's arms.

(K)M-Merig? My love?

Kate shakes Merig, desperation etching itself into her features. But there's no response, no flicker of life. The horrifying realization crashes over her. He's gone. Fresh tears erupt, cascading down her face and onto Merig's still form. Wracked with sobs, Kate takes a shuddering breath before letting out a primal scream that tears through the darkness of the forest. Her anguished cry hangs heavy in the air as she mourns Merig's death.

(K)MEEEERRRRIIIIIIIIIG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Witnessing the scene, Ashley dissolves into fresh tears. She stumbles towards Larry, her sobs intensifying, and buries her face in his arms. Larry, tears streaming down his own face, envelops Ashley in a tight embrace, offering her what little comfort he can. Barth, wracked with grief for his fallen brother, drops to his knees beside Kate. He reaches out a tentative hand, gently touching her shoulder. Kate, clinging to Merig's lifeless form, pulls him even closer, her sobs morphing into a low, mournful wail. With a final, lingering kiss on his forehead, she continues to rock back and forth, clutching Merig's body ever tighter.

(K)Please Merig, come back. I need you. I can’t bear the thought of living without you.

(B)I’m sorry Kate, this is all my fault.

(K)No, it’s not your fault Barth, it’s mine. I fell in love with him, thinking everything would be perfect and I’d be happy and we’d both be happy together. But I only made his life worse and none of this would’ve happened. If I had just stayed in Taill, he’d still be alive.

(B)Don’t think that way, Kate, you both deserved happiness. Besides, you didn’t kill him, Cormac did.

Kate's sobs subside slightly, replaced by a burning fury. She glares up at Cormac, tears still tracking down her cheeks. Her expression is a mask of raw pain and barely contained rage. Cormac, taking in the scene, sees the horrifying truth reflected in Kate's eyes. The weight of his actions crashes down on him. He lets go of the crossbow with a clatter, leaping down from the crate and approaching Kate with hurried steps. He stops at a distance, six feet separating them, and looks down at her, his voice trembling as he prepares to speak.

(C)You really loved him, didn’t you?

(K)[glare] Of course I loved him! HE WAS EVERYTHING TO ME! And you killed him. He made me so happy and I can’t imagine my life without him. I was over the moon for him and all the time we spent together. He made me forget what misery was like, what sadness and what sorrow felt like. I never even felt one ounce of misery with Merig, especially when he kissed me, or held me at night, or when he made love to me. Nothing else mattered when I was with him and I would've never in a million years traded him for anything or anyone, not even a human man. No human man could ever love me as much as Merig did. And I could NEVER love a human man as much as I loved Merig. I hope you're happy with yourself and I hope you suffer for what you’ve done to him because I will suffer without him. And if I suffer, so should you.

(C)I’m sorry, Kate.

(K)I don’t need your apology. I need Merig back.

Gripped by grief, Kate clutches Merig's body close. Through tear-blurred eyes, she reaches for the necklace he gave her. With trembling fingers, she unclasps it from her neck, a final token of their love. Her sobs intensify as she drapes the necklace over Merig's still form. Cormac, his gaze drawn to the glint of the pendant, watches the scene unfold with a furrowed brow. Finally, he breaks the silence, his voice laced with curiosity.

(C)That necklace. Where did you get that?

(K)Merig gave it to me as a birthday gift, when he confessed his love for me.

(C)Does it glow in the moonlight?

(K)Yes, it glows under the full moon. That’s what Merig told me, and we both witnessed it.

(C)Actually, it glows under any phase of the moon and it’s not just an ordinary necklace. That necklace contains a stone that can bring anyone back to life and heal them of all their wounds. It’s a revival stone.

(K)What?

(L)Are you serious? How do we know we can trust that you’re telling the truth?!

(C)I just know, go ahead and try it. The moon should be out, but you might want to hurry.

Cormac gazes up at the night sky, captivated by the sight of wispy clouds drifting away from the moon, gradually revealing its half-full glow. He gestures for Kate to join him, and she follows his gaze, her expression tense with worry. As their eyes meet, she speaks with an unmistakable distress in her voice.

(K)It’s just a half-moon tonight.

(C)It will still work. Place the pendant on his wound and you’ll see.

(B)For your sake, this better work, Cormac.

(C)It will work, I’ve used one before.

(L)If it doesn’t work, I’ll kill you myself and you can join Merig in the grave.

(K)Alright, I’ll try it, I’ll do anything to bring him back.