Hate (I Really Don't Like You)

[Max452]

Einar cried out in shock as he watched the lightening move toward Marcus. His eyes became wide when he spotted Marola move. No! He shouted to himself. He would not let her die! She had become his sister and he would not let his sister die. He heard Gianna act quickly as she went to distract the Shade, trusting in her skills as a warrior. He rushed to Marola's side with Marcus and immediately stretched forth his hand over her. "Waise Heil!" He commaned the magic within him to emerge and heal Marola.

***
Tyrant didn't have time to relish in the pain he had just caused as Gianna had struck out at him. "Oooh, it appears you want to die again, eh?" He taunted the Celesti Rider and parried her blow. He began to move his sword hand intricately, toying with Gianna to see how good of a swordsman she had become. "Let's see if you've learned something." He cackled, ignoring the fallen Marola for a moment.

***
"CORTELL!" Daeron yelled out after his brother, worried on his features. It sounded like Mother was hurt. He glanced behind him, at the confused and worried patrons of the city. Cortell had told him to watch over them, but his family was in danger! For him, it was an easy choice. "Stay here and keep away from the doors and windows until we come back!" He told them before racing off after Cortell.

[Tismri]

Marola felt herself falling into Marcus' arms, her body still jerking from the electricity remaining in her body. Her hair was burnt and singed, her body blackened. But Marcus was all right; that was all that mattered to her.
She heard Einar's words as he rushed over to heal her, and she was glad he was there. He was like a brother to her, a best friend and kindred spirit. They together often marveled that the similarities between their lives. She knew she could count on him.
She continued to twitch slightly, but felt the pain easing. She gently placed a hand against Marcus' face, to assure him that she was all right.
"I'm not...going anywhere," she promised him. She frowned slightly at the look on his face; that one that told her he was feeling inadequate, unworthy. She wished those thoughts would leave him. He was a good man, honest and strong, and a natural-born leader.
"Mom? Mom! What happened?" she heard. Cortell...he would have sensed her pain. He knew whenever she was hurt or pleased or depressed. Of course he would be worried.
Cortell ran to his parents, grabbing his mother's hand, a terrified expression on his face. "What happened? Father? Uncle?" He looked at the Shade, his eyes reflecting the level of his fury. No one hurt his mother. No one.

[Trinn]

Marcus thanked the Gods for Einar's presence. He could of shed tears of relief when the rider, his brother really, began to heal his wife. He held her close to him during the healing, as if he could transfer his own life force to her. At the sound of Cortell, he looked up sharply, afraid for his step-son's life. "Cortell!" He said, nearly shouting. "Go and stay somewhere safe!" He glanced at the shade, who was busy dueling with Gianna. The past war and the following sixteen years had really helped her bloom into a proficient swordsman. "Go and stay someplace safe! I cannot have you losing your life here!"
***

Tally hid under the bed, her hands over her head. The sounds outside were horrific. She had never heard such a ferocious dragon roar before. And then there was the crackling and zapping, like lightning. Worst of all, the shouts of her mother and father. Cortell!? She heard him then, shouting for their mother. Asking what was wrong. Unable to bear it any longer, Tally rolled out from under the bed and dashed through the house towards the tumult outside.
***

A sneer lit Gianna's face as she fought with the shade of Tyr. He was testing her, and almost pushing her to her limits. She moved in a blur, as fast as an elf, blocking and parrying his advances. She was not tired yet. Indeed, she was energized from her rage. "On the contrary!" She shouted at him, "Death has made you weak."

[Max452]

Einar heard Cortell's frantic voice, but did not respond; he was focused on the task at hand and would not waver until he had completely healed Marola. The silver glow streaked across Marola's burnt skin, healing it as it went.

***
Tyrant was intoxicated with this battle. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time, not since he had burnt down half of Gil'ead when he was born. That was a fun night, too bad he had placed himself in solititude for a good 15 years, learning and growing in power; he could have had much more fun with Marola and Gianna. His focus returned to block Gianna's raged onslaughts. "My, my, Gianna," his eyes scanned her body intently as they fought. "You have some fire, don't you? It's a shame we never got to know each other better. I can assure you that it would have been quite fun." His red eyes settled on her's before his sword arm thrusted forward to slice her across the abdomen. "I'll be happy to not kill you if you forget that scarred man Einar and run off with me. What say you? We could have a wonderful time together." He flashed her Tyr's charming grin, hoping to distract her as his blade desired to cut her in half.

[Tismri]

Lyta pulled herself up to peek over the edge of a window, staring at everything that was going on with wide eyes. A bright flash seemed to turn Mamma into pure light for a moment, and Daddy looked scared when her light went out. Cortell suddenly appeared, also looking scared and angry, and she spotted Daeron a bit behind him. Aunt Gianna was fighting the strange, scary man, and she looked really really really mad, and so did Gladia. Then Tally suddenly came running through the house, obviously worried about everything going on outside.
A thought suddenly crossed Lyta's mind, and she turned and ran to Mamma and Daddy's room, where she saw Mamma's dark green sword settled across a low dresser. Lyta had been implored not to touch it, because it could be dangerous. But she as sure Mamma would want it right now, since Aunt Gianna had hers.

Cortell shook his head at his stepfather's demands, refusing to budge from his mother's side. Her breathing was a little raspy, but Einar's spell was working quickly.
"You're crazy if you think I'm getting out of here," he said. However, when he glanced up to glare at the Shade again, he spotted the sight of the upper half of little Lyta's face in the window, and a moment later, Tally's figure appeared in the doorway, and he had a feeling Daeron was close behind. Suddenly, he became torn, knowing his siblings would be in danger on this battlefield.
Marola was touched by Cortell's concern. She knew he loved her deeply, and his attachment to her was extremely personal. However, as she felt her pain ease and her strength return as Einar healed her, she noticed each one of her children. Her eyes turned commanding upon her son; she had felt the pain of losing one child already--Lyta's twin, at birth--and she refused to know it again so soon.
"Son, watch over your brother and sisters," she commanded him. She sat up slowly, clutching onto Marcus; some of the pain still lingered, clinging to her like thorns. "I'll be fine," she promised.
"Mommy!" Marola heard little Lyta's voice from the doorway of the house, and a surprised smile crossed her face as she spotted her youngest child dragging Gulia along toward her. However, to get to her, she'd walk right through where Tyrant and Gianna were battling. She made an effort to stand, which was difficult, but she accomplished it all the same, driven by need to protect her children. She still wasn't completely healed, but she had to get back into the fight already.
"Stay there, darling," she called to her child, "I'll come get it."

[Trinn]

Gianna found Tyr's classic grin repulsive. But it worked as a distraction. She remembered when she had been living in Galbatorix's castle as a new rider. She had thought then that Tyr was handsome, charming even. How lucky she had been not to fall for his evil charm. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed another motion. Lyta! This was a true distraction, and she hissed in pain as Tyr's sword made a long cut across her stomach. She backpeddaled, turning her back to Lyta in an effort to protect the girl. She pressed forward at the shade, trying to back him up and away from the little girl.
***

"No you won't!" Marcus said to Marola. She wasn't fit to walk yet. He gave Einar a look that said, "keep her here", then gently set her down and stood. Gianna was doing a good job of protecting his youngest daughter so far, but she was nowhere near out of harms way. Before he could begin to step towards Lyta, Talia appeared behind her in the window. He watched as Tally quickly pulled Lyta back out of the door way, into the relative safety of the house. A moment later she reappeared with Gulia in hand and darted out of the house and to his side. "Here." she said, eyes wide.

"Good girl." he told her, then turned her back around and pushed her back towards the house. "Keep Lyta out of trouble!" He ordered. Tally nodded and returned to tend to her baby sister.

[Max452]

The smell of blood was satisfying to the Shade as he continued to fight against Gianna. He heard Stigandr roar and Einar dart his eyes over; they seemed to be one of fear this time. Odd. Tyrant didn't have a moment to think about it as he was then accosted again by the purple rider. He moved backward, spotting a little girl for a moment, but turned his face to battle Gianna. He blocked and parried here and there, and finally, decided to end this. "Deloi." Sand gathered around him and Gianna. "Kveykva." His left hand was again snaked with lightening. "Do you know what happens to sand when it is met with powerful heat, Gianna, dear?" Tyrant asked bemused.

***
"Marola...wait..." Einar had done his best to heal her and was insisting that she rest when she proceeded to rise. "You're not well yet." He then heard Stigandr's roar and felt Gianna become wounded. His eyes darted over to his wife, fear in his eyes when he noticed where she was wounded. "The baby!" He whispered with fright. Einar was momentarily conflicted; did he dare stay with Marola to make sure she was well or did he go and save his wife? The conflict passed easily. No matter what, Einar would always choose Gianna. He got up. "Marola, stay put, I'm going to end this." Einar replied with a growl that echoed Stigandr's. Gripping Edoc'sil, Einar raced toward the swirling sand just as Tyrant was unleashing his lightening at Gianna.

***
"Mother!" Daeron cried out as he saw his mother on the ground, being tended by Uncle Einar and Father. He spotted Aunt Gianna battling, and was confused at this enemy. What was that thing? He hoped over the fence, skidding to a stop next to Cortell. "What happened?"

[Tismri]

"The hell I won't move," Marola replied to both Marcus and Einar. Her children were all in danger as long as this lunatic demon was here. As Einar left to fight with his wife, Marola followed her husband to where their eldest daughter had her sword.
"Thank you, Tally," she said. She glanced at Cortell, and Daeron, who had also arrived. "Both of you, inside the house," she told them. "Protect your sisters." Her iron will kept her going; it was what held her up in the past, facing down Galbatorix corageously without revealing even the existance of Cortell to him. And now she would help her friends take down this creature. However, when she turned to face them, she lost sight of them in a cloud of dust swirling around. She gestured to her sons. "Stay behind me, boys," she told them. "Skolir fra du deloi," she called out, shielding them from the dust cloud in case Tyrant had something else up his sleeve for all of them.

Cortell glanced at Daeron as he arrived on the scene, asking what had happened to their mother. "That...that thing hurt her," he said furiously. He pulled Daeron to the entrance of the house and stood watching in fear and fascination of the battle; though he knew his parents and Aunt and Uncle were all warriors, he was unable to clearly remember a time seeing them actually battle. They were quite a sight to behold.

[Trinn]

Gianna was panting now from the exertion of the fight. This was by far the toughest opponenet she had ever faced. It was a good thing she had continued to practice swordplay daily since the end of the Empire War. Tyr pushed away from her now, and lifted his hand in a familiar way. Her eyes went wide as she remembered the purple lightning with a terrified clarity. She made to back away, but a wall of sand was now surrounding her with Tyr. "Skolir fra du deloi et fra da kevekya!" She shouted, unknowingly repeating Marola's words nearly exactly. And quickly after, she muttered a quick spell to ward the growing infant inside of her. The baby couldn't be hurt, she couldn't bear it if it were. She didn't bother answering Tyrs question. It was obvious that what would happen would be a terrible agonized death. She made to lunge at Tyr again, but he was already unleashing the crackling lightning. The bolts struck her in the chest. Her spell protected her from death, but she could still feel the intense sting of the lighthing. Gianna pressed forward though, willing herself to kill the shade even though her movements were slow now. Her eyes watered from the electricity, and the tears dried quickly on her zapped cheeks.

[Max452]

"What?!" Daeron glared at the Shade that had harmed his mother. He seethed! Unknowingly, he did the first thing he could think of. He grabbed a large rock, one that fit his hand perfectly, and launched it at the Shade. It didn't anything really, just got lost in the sandstorm that had formed around Aunt Gianna. "Stupid thing! You want a fight! I'll give you one!" Daeron was about to storm off at it when he felt Cortell push him behind their Mother. "Hey!" Daeron was annoyed as he wasn't able to avenge his Mother's pain, but for once obediently did as he was told, standing behind her.

***
"GIANNA!" Einar screamed as he watched the lightening hit her. "NO!" He yelled out in agony, racing further toward the storm, but was halted as he saw what was happening to the sand. It was turning into glass! "GIANNA!" Einar screamed again as he slammed a fist on the glass.

***
Tyr laughed. "Ooo! Look at this! The young rider has finally grown!" He commented as he watched Gianna slowly make way to him. His lightening passed through and toward the sand. THe heat causing the sand to turn to glass. He then heard a large pound, followed by a very aggressive roar. Stigandr was now pounding and scraping his way into the glass dome that Tyr had created. He wanted Einar to watch. Wanted them all to watch as he moved to kill the woman that should have died before by his hands. He could hear Einar's desperate screams as the Silver Rider was now trying to cast a spell to break the glass.
"Come, Gianna, let's see if you can finally scratch me." Tyr cackled and removed his lightening spell after the dome was created.

[Trinn]

Gladia threw her head back and roared out in anguish. Gianna was trapped! Neither Stigandr's talons or Einar's swords could do any harm to the glass. The shade had made it stronger than normal glass, it seemed. Charging, Gladia rammed her shoulder into the glass, adding her strength. Gianna! she shouted, feeling frenzied and anxious. She bit, charged, and scratched at the glass, doing little more than marring the surface.
***

The heat within the dome was intense. Gianna felt sweat bead onto her forehead. "You won't win this fight, shade!" She shouted at Tyr, determined. Gladia's rage was fueling Gianna on. She felt another bloom of energy, and with that, she rushed at the shade of Tyr again. Her one hope was that her sword did not break. The battle would be over quickly then. Screaming out a war-cry, she swung the sword up and at the Shade's neck. In quick succession she took a quick step back, then thrust forward at his heart.