SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Five
Guinevere’s Pov:
I tried to still my panic. The wolves were closing in and yet somehow I thought it best to run after some small child. When really, I should be with my Queen to help her with our preparations for battle.
A silver glint flickered off in the distance, catching my eye. I ran off in the direction from which it came from. Not long after, the aroma of potent magic filled the air. Frustrated that I must have spotted a witch tasked with erasing the scents of the tribe, I stopped, hoping that I didn’t waste too much time on this false lead.
“Are you the Guardian?” the small voice of a child rang out. I glanced around, trying to find where the voice was coming from. She sounded like she was everywhere, but yet she was nowhere.
“Amethyst, it is time for you to rejoin your mother,” I demanded. “But I want to see Mathis and Celeste.” Amethyst whined. “Mathis and Celeste?” I asked. What the child said completely confused me.
“Who are they?” I demanded. “Celeste is our vengeance for the slaughtering of the Amazons that will take place today. Mathis is her mate,” Amethyst explained, appearing out of thin air.
“How do you know this?” I growled in disbelief. “Amethyst, you are full of surprises,” the Girl’s voice boomed from behind, startling me. I peered at the small child whose eyes were as silver as the Goddesses.
“I can see the wolves are closer than the scouts realize. They will be here in just a few minutes,” Amethyst whispered to the Girl as her eyes return to their amethyst colour.
“Guinevere, return and get the warriors out. I will take Amethyst to Gretchen. There is much I need to discuss with her. Something unseen has happened. Right little Thyst?” the Girl ordered.
The Goddess and the small child disappeared from sight. I glanced out in the direction Amethyst was looking. And sure enough, the scouts of the wolves were approaching the clearing.
My breath hitched. My mind spun; Cautiously, I moved away, praying the wolves did not see my location.
“Warriors to horse, ride out to the clearing. The first of the wolves have arrived. We must ensure they do not reach the village. Your Queen orders this,” I linked the warriors who were to be in the battle.
My mind raced as I moved to make it back to the Queen, before she foolishly headed into battle. I vowed to keep her alive.
Hellena’s Pov:
“Warriors to horse, ride out to the clearing. The first of the wolves have arrived. We must ensure they do not reach the village. Your Queen orders this,” Guinevere’s sweet voice filled my mind. My heart stopped.
The hour of my death was upon me. While I always hoped to die on the battlefield among my warriors, I wasn’t ready just yet. I didn’t have an heir to hold my throne. My line ended with me. And I felt like a failure. I prayed to the Goddesses for my foremothers to accept me when I meet them in the afterlife.
“Do not worry, child, your foremothers will welcome you with open arms. It is difficult to go to battle when you realize you are about to die. They will celebrate you for serving the will of your goddesses, ultimately saving your kind,” the Woman whispered, pulling me into a loving hug.
“Thank you, Goddess, I needed that. I will see you in the ever after? You have given me a lot of blessings. I can’t thank you enough,” I whispered, grabbing my helm to make my way to my horse, and to my death.
“You are welcome, Hellena. You have honored me well, I promise you will see me at your end, I will not leave you,” the Girl’s voice flooded my mind, such a comfort to know that in our end, she will be waiting for us all.
I mounted my horse just as Guinevere returned. “My Queen, are you ready?” she enquired, checking over my horse. I nodded. “I think we can surprise them, and take out more than a few of them before the tides turn against us,” she smiled.
Her lust for battle always amazed me. “Send the order,” I replied solemnly. Nothing we could do mattered. We were pigs to slaughter. “Remember your promise to me,” I reminded her through our link.
“Your will shall be done. As soon as I am able, I will retreat and live a solitary life,” she linked. “We should hurry. The first riders are almost there,” Guinevere informed me.
We blitzed from where we stabled our horses without a word more. The crisp air tickled my face as we raced to the battleground. Even over the pounding of our horses’ hooves, the sounds of battle, yelling of orders and insults to the wolves was overwhelming. The pain filled cries of both wolves and Amazon alike shattered the calm of an otherwise beautiful day.
‘So much hate from one weak Alpha. So much life wasted. For what, vengeance?’ I thought bitterly. Guinevere and I stopped just short of the battle, which was now in full swing. The wolves kept pouring out of the tree line.
“Hopeless,” Guinevere whispered. I did not miss the horror in her voice. The rich metallic taste of blood hung heavy in the air.
I understood who it was who would end my life. I scanned the battlefield for him. Among the twisted and bloody bodies, my eyes fell on him. Somehow, I needed to keep Guinevere away from this fight. I didn’t want to watch her die.
“Guardian, this is where we part ways. This walk I must do alone, or they will never believe that we have died off,” I ordered.
Guinevere appeared to have a protest rising as I dismounted, handing her my horse’s reins. “Your promise,” I hissed at her through our link. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Your wish be done,” she struggled to reply.
Drawing my sword, I summoned all the courage I possessed to run into battle. I prepared myself to fight any wolf who dared to enter my path. By the Goddess’s hand, no wolf noticed me until I was in front of the one who would take my life.
His back was to me. He stiffened as he sensed my presence. Time slowed as his wolf turned to face me. Surprise lit his eyes up, followed by confusion.
“I am Hellena, Queen of the Amazons,” I announced, unwilling to show my fear. I would not be weak in my last moments on this earth. It was my turn to be surprised as he shifted back to his human form.
“I know who you are, Hellena,” he whispered as his earthy scent hit my nose. “I am only surprised by what you are.” His eyes fell from mine for a moment. My breathing and heart stopped as I realized what his words meant.