The Leader

I had no idea how long the battle already was taking, but we were still in the same place. We were still holding our positions, but I knew it wouldn't be for too long. I saw everyone was barely on their feet, and there was no chance for us to win this, but no one wanted to give up. More and more Rob with Vena or Vini was showing up in the corner of my eyes, as more and more of our people were unable to fight any longer. We met briefly just to make sure that we are alright, but we didn't have enough time to talk, but I saw how devastated he was, because he couldn’t save everyone. For him as the healer the scale of death here must have been hard to take. I could only hope that if we would survive this that experience wouldn’t break him.

Frank was getting heavier and my moves slopier. Even all that katharsis I went through earlier and the excitement I felt couldn’t overcome my body’s limitations. I wasn't the only one who was feeling that. We all were breathing harder and getting easier targets, so unknowingly we were getting closer to each other to keep our back safes, but that meant that monsters started to surround all of us. I noticed that the only one who still wanted to fight alone was Ed and that worried me. My heart almost dropped when he fell on his knees, so I desperately tried to get to him, knowing that I might be too late, because he looked like he couldn’t get up and the only thing that was left was the final blow.

When I first met him I only saw him through his resemblance to his father, but then I realised how much he reminds me of his mother. That ginger hair, she was always so proud of and that will to life in his eyes, the infectious joy of life, the longing for freedom she also never had. Something was shining on his chest. The pendant he must have got from her, because it was a gift for me. Ugly and terribly made, because I was stubborn to give her something for her twentieth birthday with my own hands, but under the Svenir’s watch. Even with his advice the result was wrong and I was a bit embarrassed to give it to her, however she probably was wearing it every day, because “it’s a gift from my older brother.” Why couldn’t I see her in her own son?! Now, I can lose him too… I couldn’t break to him, to that young kid, whom I should treat as a nephew, next to whom I should be when his mother died, which I should also protect…

Monsters couldn’t laugh but I was pretty sure that the one preparing to take Ed’s life could, it would. I was scared and I was hoping that I would never have to feel that kind of fear of losing a family member, and it was happening just before my eyes. Instead of seeing Edward going down, the one who was defeated was that monster and above him Rob with the dagger in his hand. He couldn’t use magic in a fight, but that short blade came in handy. I got to them a moment later, the ex king’s hero was already leaning on the healer's shoulder.

“I will take care of him!” Rob said and whistled for Vena to come.

But he needed a minute to get the wounded on the horse, so I covered them, until they were ready to move. I realised that Ned was watching that whole scene, I looked him in the eyes.

“You might hate all of us, me especially. But I don’t think you closed your heart for your son either. There must be some fatherly feelings in you!.” I tried somehow to get to him, even though his face didn’t change at all.

“It was his fault!”

The way he said it, I was sure, he wanted to try to convince himself about it. But that second of doubt and hesitation changed everything. A huge monster, who I thought was playing the role of his guardian, used the opportunity to get its freedom back. It bit off Ned’s head in one snap of its teeth.

“Father!” Ed’s painful scream pierced my heart.

Once again the silence fell on the battlefield, everyone stopped moving and all we heard was a swallow, and then a roar, that made me shower from head to toe. That was a signal for the monsters to go wild and don’t care who is in front of them. Kill all. Destroy everything. Chaos. Time for the monsters to take over the world. I didn’t know when I started moving in its direction, screaming out of anger and pain. Ned was my friend! He hurt me, he hated me, but still the memories of our friendship were dear to me and for sure I didn’t want him dead. Punished yes, but not killed in front of my eyes. I was blinded and the monster didn’t seem bothered by me. He just threw me away with his huge pawn and looked at me like I was at least an ant and smirked at me.

The elves and king’s army must have joined our side, because monsters turned against them too. Unfortunately it took them a moment to get themselves together as their first reaction was panic and their leader was gone. I must have broken a rib or two, when I hit the ground after the flight that leader monster sent me to. I needed a different approach, but I was so tired already and my body couldn’t break anymore limits. But if I was supposed ever get revenge it must have been that moment, on that monster, for Ned and his son, who probably wanted to take it himself.

At least I could get his head back, so the king could be buried probably. Even though for all these years he was sitting on the throne I didn’t notice he did anything to destroy the kingdom, it could be the reason, but he didn’t. He loved Maddie and he might have made her marry him, but for sure he wouldn’t hurt her in any way. Considering they had a son, she must have grown feelings for him too.

My arm was saying no, when I tried to lift Frank with it. Please, I have to do this, even if it would be the last thing I do in my life, as a friend, as a hero. Just a little bit more. A little bit… I tighten my grip on the sword and the shield. The Fish Hero might have not existed for long, but I won’t lose all the effort so many people put in to make him alive. The last thing he would do, would be killing that huge monster bastard.