The invaders had built a gladiator arena while they were in power, and Raithlin decided that Thoradin would die there. The arena was filled with spectators, and Leianara was among them, her heart heavy with dread. Thoradin was led out into the arena, facing a 16-foot-tall giant clad in armor and wielding a massive axe. Thoradin wore a steel collar with a special enchantment that prevented him from casting spells. Armed only with a sword, he was at a great disadvantage.

The fight began, and Thoradin had to work hard to evade the giant’s powerful attacks. His sword was soon broken by the giant’s axe, leaving him with only half a blade. He fell on his back, and the giant raised its axe to deliver the final blow. In a desperate move, Thoradin rolled between the giant’s legs and hamstrung it, causing the massive creature to topple over. Seizing the opportunity, Thoradin rose and stabbed the giant in the eye, killing it.

Raithlin stood from his spectator booth, his voice booming over the arena. “Well done, hero. Your skill has won the day. This is but the first trial of many, and they won’t end until your heart’s blood stains the ground. Let all who are present hear my decree: such will be the fate of all traitors.”

In the stands, Leianara turned to Baraden, her eyes pleading. “Please, you must help me rescue Thoradin. We mustn’t abandon him. He’s the symbol of defiance we need to inspire and rally the people.”

Baraden looked troubled. “We cannot help you, Princess. Raithlin is too strong to be opposed. You must accept this and surrender.”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I thought you were patriots,” Leianara said, her voice filled with disbelief.

“I hate what has happened, but defeat has taught me well to heed the counsel of despair,” Baraden replied, his tone heavy with regret.

“Fine, then help me get a message to him.”

Baraden looked at her for a long moment, then sighed. “Very well, Princess. This I will help you do.”

Leianara, disguised using makeup and prosthetics to look like a servant, made her way through the dimly lit corridors of the castle. She carried a tray of food, her heart pounding as she approached Thoradin’s cell. As she entered, Thoradin looked up, his eyes widening with recognition. “Princess, is that you?”

“Yes,” Leianara whispered, setting the tray down. “I’ve come to ask you to surrender. Accept Raithlin’s oath of allegiance.”

Thoradin’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What good will that do? Do you think I value my honor so cheaply?”

Leianara’s eyes were pleading. “I will be there with you, and I have a plan. Trust me.”

Thoradin seemed troubled but finally nodded. “Very well, my queen, I will put my faith in you and do as you command. I’m sorry I betrayed you, Princess. I should never have made a deal with those devils. You were right to rebuke me.”

“You really hurt me, Thor,” Leianara said softly. “After all Raithlin put me through, I couldn’t bear the thought of you crossing me too.”

“You should just abandon me to suffer; it’s what I deserve,” Thoradin replied, his voice filled with remorse.

“No,” Leianara insisted, her eyes filled with compassion. “You weren’t motivated by greed like Raithlin, only concern for my well-being. You deserve my forgiveness, not my animosity. I could never hate you.”

“I swear I will never disappoint you again. I’d rather die.”

“Please don’t say such things, Thor. You’ll just invite bad luck, and that’s the last thing we need.”

Thoradin was brought before Raithlin in the arena, the crowd buzzing with anticipation. Raithlin’s eyes gleamed with cruel delight. “Are you ready to face your next challenge? The crowd deserves a good show.”

“No,” Thoradin said firmly. “I’ve decided to surrender to you.”

Raithlin’s eyes widened in surprise. “You what? I can’t believe what I’m hearing. The proud and noble Thoradin Akandor yielding to his hated enemy. What delicious irony this is. What caused your change of heart?”

“The rebels abandoned me, and the princess forsook me. I don’t owe them any allegiance,” Thoradin replied, his voice steady.

Raithlin smirked. “I see suffering has made you wise. Very well then, kneel.” Thoradin kneeled before him.

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Raithlin began to cast the spell, the air crackling with magical energy. Leianara, hidden in the crowd, listened intently. As the spell was completed, Thoradin gave his oath. His shackles shattered and fell away, and he was set free. Raithlin turned to the crowd, his voice booming. “You see, I am a forgiving monarch. There is no reason to hate me. Only my enemies need fear me.”

The crowd remained hushed, dismayed by Thoradin’s submission. He had become a folk hero to them, a symbol of defiance. Raithlin’s words echoed through the arena. “Now, I have a mission for you, one you’re uniquely suited to perform. I want you to hunt down our wayward princess and bring her before me. This king needs a queen.”

Thoradin bowed deeply. “I hear and obey, my king.”

Leianara waited anxiously at her hideout, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. When Thoradin finally arrived, he stood before her with his sword drawn. “I’m sorry, Princess, but I serve the king now. He commands you to surrender. Do not be afraid; he doesn’t want to harm you.”

“Then why are you trying to scare me?” she asked, her voice trembling with defiance.

“I’m trying to protect you, from your own mistakes,” Thoradin replied, his eyes filled with a conflict he couldn’t fully conceal.

Leianara squared her shoulders. “I can protect myself very well, thank you.” She drew her own sword, her hands steady despite the turmoil within her.

Thoradin attacked, but his strikes were measured, aiming to disarm rather than kill. Leianara used his reluctance to her advantage, evading his blows with skill and determination. However, Thoradin’s prowess as a swordsman was undeniable, and eventually, he disarmed her. She fell on her backside, and as he reached down to grab her, she cast a quick spell that blinded him. Thoradin staggered around in darkness, cursing softly, while Leianara began a much longer incantation, the same spell she had heard Raithlin use to control him.

“Do you seek to protect me?” she asked, her voice firm and commanding.

“Of course, everything I do is to protect you,” Thoradin replied, his voice strained but sincere. The oath was given, and her spell took effect.

“Now you owe your allegiance to me,” Leianara declared.

Thoradin’s face contorted with inner conflict. “I cannot. I swore to serve the king. A bitterly cold winter chills my heart, but I must obey.”

“You swore to serve me,” Leianara insisted, her voice softer now, filled with the depth of her emotions.

Thoradin cried out in pain and fell to his knees, dropping his sword. “No, I serve Raithlin.”

“Raithlin doesn’t love you. I do. Feel my love thaw the frozen ice of your despair like spring dawning,” Leianara said, her eyes filled with tears.

“You love me?” Thoradin asked, his voice breaking.

“Yes, even in betrayal, your heart is faithful and true. How can I not feel the same?” Leianara's voice was gentle, but her words were powerful.

Thoradin’s face twisted in agony. “But I serve the king.”

“The king is bending your will against you. I’m giving you your heart’s desire. You can choose, Thoradin. Choose between enslavement or devotion. I know you’ll make the right choice,” Leianara said, her voice filled with hope and determination.

Thoradin stared up into her eyes, tears streaming down his face. “With all my heart and soul, I choose you.”

“No power in this world can thwart our love; it’s as indomitable as the rising sun,” Leianara whispered. He broke the spell, and they embraced, their kiss sealing their renewed bond. They made love.

The pair returned to Raithlin’s throne room, their hearts heavy with the weight of their deception. Raithlin grinned with pleasure as he saw them enter. “Well done, my servant. You have made your king very happy. So, Princess, you have learned that my power is absolute. I hope it’s not a lesson I will need to repeat.”

Leianara’s eyes blazed with defiance. “You’re a fool, Raithlin. A fool who thought he was fit to rule, but you’re wrong. Power doesn’t make a good ruler. A good ruler needs compassion and wisdom.”

Raithlin’s smile faded into a sneer. “Not this nonsense again. When are you going to learn that heroism is the most mindless form of idiocy? It’s dying for a lost cause, it’s fighting for an illusion—the illusion that righteousness is rewarded. But we both know that no kindness goes unpunished, you just refuse to admit it.”

The tome sat on a pedestal beside the king, its presence a silent reminder of the power it held. Raithlin began casting the spell of mind control on Leianara, his eyes glowing with dark magic. While he was focused on the spell, Thoradin seized the moment and grabbed the tome. Raithlin cursed, his concentration broken, and prepared to blast Thoradin.

“Let her go or I will destroy it,” Thoradin threatened, holding the tome aloft.

“Give me the book or she dies,” Raithlin retorted, his voice cold and menacing.

Leianara’s eyes met Thoradin’s, filled with a desperate plea. “Beloved, I command you to take the book and flee.”

“I can’t abandon you again,” Thoradin protested, his voice filled with anguish.

“You must. Please, beloved, do as I command,” Leianara insisted, her voice steady despite her fear.

Thoradin was torn between choices, but her spell compelled him to obey. With an anguished cry, he fled for the window, crashing through it and casting a spell to levitate safely to the ground. He escaped into the night, the tome clutched tightly in his hands.

Raithlin shouted, “Hunt him down! I want that dog found!” He gripped Leianara’s face in his right hand, squeezing painfully. “That was very foolish. I offered you everything you could ever wish for, but you threw it back in my face.”

“Your gifts are poisoned, Raithlin, like your withered heart. I’ll always defy you,” Leianara spat, her eyes filled with hatred.

“Not once I hold Thoradin’s life in my hand. Then I will have your submission. I told you heroism is a form of insanity, but you failed to heed the voice of reason. Soon you will come to your senses,” Raithlin hissed, his voice dripping with menace.

Leianara’s heart pounded with fear and defiance, knowing that the struggle was far from over. As Raithlin tightened his grip, she steeled herself for the battles yet to come, determined to resist him no matter the cost.