It was in the early hours of morning on the seventh day that the horns sounded, signifying the imminent arrival of the enemy. I had already been tossing and turning for over an hour, while anticipation gnawed at my stomach and fear gripped me by the throat, threatening to smother me. I turned to rouse Charlie but his bed was empty, sending a small flash of panic through me. What if I don't see him before the battle? I sat frozen in place for a moment, until I managed to push my negative thoughts to the back of my mind and pulled my boots on. I fastened my belt around my waist, checking and rechecking that Rend, my smaller dagger, my sword and my pouch containing the dragon tears were secure. When we reached the kitchen, Merek's family had already gathered there, their expressions solemn as they waited.

"Have Lowin and Charlie both left already?" I asked, noting the elf General's absence.

"Yes. Lowin has been preparing since midnight and Charlie left the moment the first bell rang. I believe he is helping to prepare the Queen's armour," replied Enara, adjusting the binding on one of Yana's leather bracers who gave me a determined smile and said,

"I promised I'd get your uncle home safe and sound today, so you better win."

"Of course, we will," I responded, more confident than I felt. I was eternally grateful to Yana and the small group of elves who had volunteered to lead a rescue party for my uncle. I watched Yuli repeatedly check her bowstring and the flights of her arrows and Telrith sharpen his glaive with trembling fingers until their anxious movements drove me outside.

I took a deep breath and looked out into the city. The elves had kept the lanterns un-lit for the past few night, leaving the forest dim and ominous in the grey light before dawn. The clouds were thick and heavy overhead and I prayed that the rain would remain in the skies for the duration of the battle. My fingernails dug into the wooden railing before me and I steeled myself, drawing strength from my days spent in the arena, the rush of battling an opponent followed by the blissful feeling of triumph. The horns sounded once again, the second warning that it was time to assume our positions. I set off for the armoury and was relieved to see numerous elves still preparing. Charlie was assisting an elf with his helmet and I spotted my chest piece, just behind him. I scurried over to it and put it on over my thick leather jerkin, the metal snug against my chest. Charlie had altered it to fit and protect me properly, without hindering my movement. It had taken me time to grow accustomed to its weight, heavier than my usual leather armour, but it now felt natural and secure. I scraped my long curls up into a high ponytail and began to stretch my limbs.

When he was finished with the elf, Charlie came over and checked the fastenings on my equipment and armour. His expression was one of pure concentration but I could sense his unease. I placed my hand over his and squeezed it gently in an attempt to reassure him. He flashed me a grateful look as he donned his own breastplate. I was helping him with the difficult fastenings when Yana's voice came from the door behind us,

"It's time to go everyone! Amelia, Charlie, Jaiya, Kanlo, get to the stables then head straight for the edge of the city, everyone's assembling before the Queen." I dipped my head and hastily finished securing Charlie's armour before the two of us followed Jaiya and Kanlo to the stables. Above us, I could see the faint outline of the young and old of Eularia, carrying out last minute preparations, fastening ropes and securing nets of rocks; a final defence against the invaders.

Auriel and Valiant were already saddled and waiting when we arrived at the stables and Merek was astride Natiro.

"I'm glad I got to see the two of you before the battle," called Merek, guiding Natiro forward with his knees, his good hand resting on the pommel of his sword, a round wooden shield fastened to his left arm.

"Likewise," replied Charlie, patting Valiant's muzzle affectionately before hoisting himself up into the saddle. Merek grinned at him before glancing at me to say,

"Orchid is too small for battle, so you'll be riding Auriel." I blinked in surprise, but part of me was glad Orchid would be out of danger.

Together, the three of us rode for the southern entrance of the city, where the army had gathered. When we arrived, Lowin was pacing along the front lines giving out orders and words of encouragement. Behind him, Queen Suraya formed a striking image. Dressed in an intricate combination of metal and leather armour she sat atop a honey-coloured destrier, her blonde hair piled high upon her head in a mass of braids, bone and feathers. When she opened her mouth, I expected her to impart some sort of rousing speech upon us; instead, she began to sing. The forest fell silent as her voice echoed through the trees, hauntingly beautiful as she chanted in the elven tongue; the language of the forest. The others joined in is as we marched through the forest, their individual voices merging into one ethereal song of strength and resolve. Thousands of footsteps and hoofbeats kept the rhythm as we snaked through the undergrowth, the creatures of the forest falling silent upon our approach. The rising mist played tricks on my eyes, conjuring false dangers from the shadows.

I found myself thinking of my uncle, Elizabeth and everyone I had ever lost, determined to avenge them. My thoughts were interrupted by the terrifying sound of a dragon's thunderous roar, followed by a dozen more. Many of us flinched beneath the sound but the Queen did not falter, her voice threatening to pierce the heavens as she continued to sing until we reached an enormous clearing, stretching as far as the eye could see. Dawn was breaking on the horizon, revealing the outline of our opponents as they emerged in the distance. Rihnunir and Lord Marsh rode at the helm, each astride a horse as they galloped toward us, their forces fanning out as they waited. The Queen beckoned us forward and I nudged Auriel gently, bringing her forward to stand between Valiant and Natiro. Lowin stood slightly beside the Queen, wielding his glaive defensively, prepared to strike.

"Suraya, it's been a while," smirked Rihnunir, fixing his yellow gaze on the elven Queen.

"Spare me the false niceties traitor," she hissed frostily, her golden eyes burning with rage.

"You wound me," he taunted, placing a hand over his heart, "and here I thought we were friends."

"Go! Return to your pathetic army," spat the Queen, pointing her spear directly toward Rihnunir's face, "This Kingdom will never fall to an abomination like you."

"Well I tried," he replied, his blackened gums and sharp teeth splitting his face into a disturbing grin, "I suppose you'll be joining your mother and father after all." Charlie bristled at his comment and the enraged expression he wore was a mirror of his mother's. Noticing his sudden shift in attitude, Lord Marsh finally spoke,

"I can't say I was surprised when I learned the three of you had survived, once again that useless girl failed to accomplish the simplest of tasks." Merek responded with an angry hiss, drawing his sword which prompted Charlie to place a cautionary hand on his shoulder. Lord Marsh glanced at him and snorted with contempt. "Not only did she fail, she also got herself killed in the process. She really was a pathetic excuse for a Marsh." The drawling manner in which he spoke of his own daughter broke something inside of me and I lost control.

"How dare you!?" I bellowed, glaring at him, my fists clenched so tightly my fingernails drew blood, "How can you speak about her that way? Elizabeth was a hundred times braver, wiser and stronger than you will ever be!"

"Gods, you're as bad as your uncle," he spat, "which reminds me, I have a gift for you." There was a cruel glint in his pale green eyes when he turned in his saddle and retrieved a burlap sack. Rihnunir was already halfway across the clearing when Lord Marsh tossed it to me and followed after him. My palms were slippery with sweat as I fumbled with the sack, wave after wave of dread crashing through my body. My hands shook as I opened it, vaguely aware of everyone staring. I choked back the bile rising in my throat as the smell of rotting flesh hit the roof of my mouth. Tears welled in my eyes when I reached into the bag and pulled the object out by a handful of hair.

My uncle's severed head was in varying stages of decay, staring back at me with unseeing eyes. Motionless, I gripped the sides of his head in disbelief. Unknown fingers grasped at my arms and chest and somewhere a woman was wailing in anguish. It was only when I felt an agonising scream tear itself from my throat that I realised it was me. My fingers relaxed, my uncle's head falling to the floor as I came crashing back to reality; I was charging.

"Amelia no!" came Charlie's desperate cry, but in that moment, there was nothing in the world that could have persuaded me to stop. Auriel's breathing was laboured but still, she carried us onward, as if she too, were filled with vengeance. We were hot on Lord Marsh's tail when a screeching noise sounded overhead and a lesser dragon with scarred, purple scales and torn wings plummeted to the ground between us. It snapped its jaws at us and Auriel stood up on her hind legs, striking its snout with her front legs as I tumbled to the ground. The impact left me dazed for a moment, but I quickly got to my feet and realised the battle had fully begun. The once empty-clearing now a frenzied battleground where elf battled goblin, human and troll alike, the dragons raining fire from above. In the distance, I saw Natiro cut down beneath Merek, Charlie pulling him atop Valiant, just as a troll slammed his greathammer down where Merek's head had been seconds before. I focused my attention back to the purple dragon and was relieved to see Auriel running for the safety of trees.

I circled the dragon warily, it's obsidian eyes glazed over just as Elizabeth's eyes had been while under Rihnunir's control. In a flash it lunged, swiping at me in a downward arc. I rolled out of the way at the last second, feeling one of its claws scrape against the back of my chest plate with a horrific squeal, leaving a deep gouge in the metal. I leapt to my feet and drew Rend, wielding it in my right hand as I braced myself for the next attack. It let out a deafening roar before it lunged once more, but this time I was prepared, slashing at its claws, slicing two of them clean off the joint. Crimson blood spurted from the wound and the enormous creature shrieked in pain, limping as it fell back. I looked down at Rend in astonishment, its blade completely unscathed. It was then that the dragon began to make a low rumbling sound, turning its snout towards me. It opened its jaws wide enough to reveal a bright glowing in the back of its throat and I began to panic. With nowhere to run or hide, I gripped Rend tightly and desperately looked for an escape route. Flame spewed forth from it's the dragon's maw and I had almost accepted my fate when I heard someone yell,

"Get down!"