The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

In the instant Fiona made contact, she heard a battlecry somewhere in the back of her mind, the voice of Margaret herself cheering her on from beyond. Hesperus's entire body shuddered and he quickly dropped down to land. His claws closed around Fiona and he tried to tear her away again, stumbling as his legs threatened to give out under him.

"Well... Well struck," he gasped before his back legs gave out. His chest grew white-hot again as he continued to fight and resist, scorching anyone he could and snapping another smaller dragon out of the sky between trying to get Fiona off. That was when Sam and Soma came charging in. Sam dropped down on Hesperus's shoulder, driving his sword deep into the socket to weaken his arm and make it harder to grab Fiona. Soma got Idunn to drop past fast enough that he got a shot at Hesperus's neck where scales were missing. His strategic swipe was rewarded with a massive gout of blood, the artery split wide open.

As blood drained from many small wounds and poison coursed through his muscles, Hesperus completely collapsed on his side, clawing the ground in pain and letting out a roar. His tone was shaky and full of pain, but still stubborn and defiant. "I am Hesperus!" He cried, glaring and grinning at all those gathered, snapping at any who came near. Avfairn was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was bitten and thrown by the back leg. He had just enough time to rip his own saddle off and cover Jani, then hit the ground hard enough to be knocked out. Jani was sent sprawling, and rolled to a halt.

"I am the namesake of a god, feller of Byzantium! I have known no match in four-thousand years!" Hesperus's voice was growing hoarse and weakening with each word.

As the glaive in Fiona's hands pulsed with each slowing beat of the dragon's dying heart, he still resisted. "I have killed emperors! I have ruled kingdoms... Let it be remembered that no one could hurt me... Save... A Blackstone..." His head struck the soft ground and he gasped for breath, no longer thrashing or trying to crush Fiona. Sam had been forced to jump clear, only to come running back in on an injured knee to back Fiona up. The titan was dying, but they wouldn't be safe til his last breath was gone.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona held her ground, even as he rolled and tried to crush her. She never let go of the pulsing glaive, heeding Margaret's words that it would beat until his heart stopped. When Sam found her, she was covered in blood, every square inch of her sticky with Hesperus's life force as she held the weapon deep inside his chest. Her eyes were clenched closed, tears starting to wet her cheeks as she remained mentally connected with the great dragon. Before her husband could reach her, she let out a cry and drove the weapon deeper to put the dragon out of his misery.

 

[KieranSoares]

Hesperus's body tensed as Fiona felt his heart shudder one last time, then go lax. He lost the last of his strength, and slowly but surely, his head came to rest on the charred ground with a final exhale.

Every Caller in the vicinity felt the immense life force die away like a volcano cooling and going dormant. A few felt waves of weakness come over them, including Sam who was already dealing with an injury. He stumbled and fell to his knees, but pushed on to reach Fiona's side anyway. The white fire in Hesperus's chest went dark as he arrived, and everything was suddenly quiet. Riders landed close by to look on and tend to the fallen, and Soma, Riley, and Andre arrived shortly after.

Soma took a few steps away from Idunn, staring at his mother in her blood-soaked armor as Sam came to her side. "... Ma?" He called almost timidly, scared to know how badly she was hurt or what killing Hesperus had done to her mentally.

 

[heartofcourage]

The silence that surrounded the battlefield was almost deafening. There was no sounds coming from the great dragon's form and his mind was blank. Since stepping foot on the islands, she had never known peace, but now Fiona was free. Opening her eyes, she slowly made herself let go of the glaive, stepping back to look at the carnage that she had caused. She ignored the blood that soaked into her clothes and the way that it stung her eyes. SHe could barely hear Soma calling for her as Sam stood at her side. Before anyone knew, she was letting out a blood curdling shriek of sorrow and anguish, her own chest feeling as if she had pierced it with a lance.

 

[KieranSoares]

Everyone startled at the sudden scream, but Sam jolted forward and caught Fiona, pulling her tightly against his chest to steady her. "Fiona," he said firmly, trying to keep himself calm as well despite labored breathing and pain. "You're okay, love, it's over..."

Soma wanted to reach out and ease whatever was happening in Fiona's mind, but he wasn't sure it was safe for her or himself. He stood in anxiety and shock beside his sister, instinctively grabbing her hand as he tried to contain his own worry.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona turned into Sam's embrace and beat her hands against his chest, not wanting to be held. She struggled against him, pushing as he held her tightly. She finally stilled, panting as she rested her forehead against his armor. Riley watched her mother, feeling her anguish and her brother's anxiety. As Soma grabbed her hand, she squeezed it tightly and reached to pull him against her side.

"It's alright, little mite." Riley murmured, holding him tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Is it...?" Soma muttered. He turned seeing his grandfather and great uncles approach, as well as a number of Riders. But they made way for Schaller, who came lumbering along with a splitting headache and his own wounds, his horn and crest missing pieces and blood running down his face.

"Fiona..." Schaller rumbled, leaning down in close and laying his head beside her.

"We need to get you cleaned up and seen to, darlin'," Sam murmured. "Can Schaller carry you?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." Fiona muttered as she shook in the let down of adrenaline. "No. I have to go see Ezra. I have to see them all. I have to make sure they're alright."

She pushed Sam away and turned to look at the injuries that Schaller had sustained. "You need help."

"Ma. You just went through hell. You need to let them look at you." Riley tried to convince her as the elder Ghis brothers took over Soma's care and she stepped forward.

"Everyone just fucking leave me alone!" Fiona shouted, needing them to back away and let her be.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam took a step back, but Schaller didn't. He kept his tone gentle and quiet, offering a hand out for Fiona to step up. "I do need help... Will you come with me? Keep me calm..." He knew even when Fiona was at her worst, she always put her dragons first. And then hopefully with her there at the medical tents with him, he could get her to Alex. "We'll see to Ezra and Jani too, and anyone else who made it."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced up at Schaller, knowing what he was doing. She didn't want to think about the pain of who they had lost and she felt a burning hatred for Hesperus bubbling into of her. However, she still had enough of a grasp on reality that she wasn't about to make a decision about anything right then and there.

"Fine." She murmured, stepping into her dragon's hand.

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller turned away from the sight of Hesperus's now-still form, limping away toward camp where Alex and his staff were treating the wounded survivors. Alex came out to meet them, immediately calling over a few of the Rider medics who had the most experience with dragons. Alex approached Fiona carefully, noticing something was very off as Schaller seemed to be concerned and protecting her still.

"Fiona," Alex said softly as Yasmine also came at his side. "Let's get you out of that armor. It must be hard to breathe." He noted the deep dents and crumpled sections, all of which had done their job protecting her but might have also broken several ribs.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't feel anything." Fiona murmured as she watched the healers start to work on Schaller. "I can't feel anything."

She glanced over at Alex and Yasmine, her blue eyes a bit vacant. She said nothing as she stepped past them to find Ezra and Jani. That was her only focus at the moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex followed shortly behind, but not before leaning in to whisper in Yasmine's ear, "She's in shock. Be ready. She's going to collapse before long..." He would normally have commanded Fiona to sit still, but something was very wrong and he was worried she might do something unexpected.

It didn't take Fiona long to find Jani first, the proud warrior still out cold with her shoulder and arm immobilized and a gash in her temple sewn shut. Her luck seemed to have held out, leaving her physically mostly whole. Ezra, on the other hand, was a very different story.

Still surrounded by doctors as they found more and more broken bones, Fiona's longest-standing lieutenant was somehow conscious and staring listlessly at the tent ceiling, his entire spine and neck immobilized and his right side mostly crushed from his fall. One eye had turned red from broken blood vessels, but he could still see just fine. Seeing Fiona approach, he barely had the strength to clear his throat to speak.

"My Queen," he managed to rasp. "You look like hell, Fiona..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I killed him." She murmured to Ezra as she gently took his hand and held it. "This whole sordid mess is done. We can rest easy now that he won't attack anyone else."

Margaret and her mother might have cheered for her living up the family name, but Fiona took no joy in the moment. She had taken from the world a creature that had been alive for millennia.

"We have to gather the dragons that died. They deserve a proper burial. Same with their riders. I think one funeral pyre would suit them all." Fiona murmured, her mind thinking of everything but herself in that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd run out there right now to organize it for you. But, uh... I don't know if I'm going to be running anyplace ever again," Ezra murmured, giving her hand a weak squeeze. "Small price to pay for living to see you home... But Alex is pretty sure my back's broken. If I ever do walk again, it won't be soon."

He offered a small, melancholy smile. "I'm afraid I have to put in for my retirement, Captain."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You have more than earned your retirement in the Haven." Fiona said softly, cupping his hand as he squeezed it. "I'm so sorry for this, Ezra. It shouldn't have been this way. I should have been able to put him back to sleep."

"Just as we should." Yasmine murmured as she came to Fiona's side and started to unbuckle her damaged armor despite Fiona's protests. "It'll hurt like hell, yes, but you have to be cleaned. No more arguments. Alex!"

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex stepped in the instant Yasmine called, an aide joining him as he unfastened buckles and was forced to cut a couple whose buckles were too damaged to open. Once the cuirass was off, all the pressure on Fiona's torso was released and with it came a wave of pain from broken ribs. Alex had a chair behind Fiona already, forcing her to sit lest she collapse at some point. Ezra still held her hand to try to keep her attention.

"I think we did the right thing," Ezra told Fiona. "He couldn't have lived happily anymore... As much as I wish no one had to die for his final wishes, I am glad he's laid to rest for good."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Fuck." Fiona growled through gritted teeth as the pain hit her all at once as Yasmine got her seated and started to clean her face with a damp cloth. The world went hazy for a moment as she panted through the worst of the pain, trying to focus on Ezra as he tried to convince her what they had done was right.

"Burns on her face. Possible broken cheek." Yasmine murmured soft to Alex, talking through the injuries with a practiced eye. "Does your head hurt?"

"No." Fiona hissed as Alex and the aide removed another piece of armor.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Mostly crush injuries, minor burns at some of the joints," Alex relayed to his wife, tossing the lightweight armor aside to be dealt with later. Once it and the layer of padding gave way to a tunic and trousers underneath, Alex took a moment to check over Fiona's ribs and see exactly how many were broken. "Five on the left... Two on the right. Definitely some cartilage breaks too, but the sternum is solid."

In all, Fiona had escaped with some very painful but ultimately treatable breaks, but her limbs were still in fill working order much to Alex's surprise. The burns were mostly minor, but again painful.

"You're the only woman I know who can face down certain death and still walk away under your own power," Alex muttered to Fiona, quietly relived that her physical wounds were all fairly simple even if they'd take a long time to heal. "Tell me. Any spots in your vision, dizziness, pain in your neck or back of your head?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't feel anything. I already told you." Fiona said as the aide started to wrap her ribs with cloth, binding her chest tightly to take away some of the pain and to give her support. "There's nothing in my head. He's gone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He might be gone but I'm more concerned about a concussion at this point." Alex took her head in his hands to study her eyes, but found she seemed to be able to focus and there was nothing amiss. Once her ribs were fully bound and Yasmine had gotten a salve on the burns, Alex backed off. "Don't go far, my love," Alex told her gently. "Keep Ezra company a while. I'll see to Sam."

He stepped away then, heading out to meet Fiona's family as they approached. "Something's... Off. But physically, she made it through with just broken ribs and burns," he reported to them. "Sam... That knee looks bad, cousin." Alex commented, seeing Sam almost unable to walk at all now that the adrenaline was dying down.

"I won't say it's fine... But I can't be bedridden, Alex," Sam told him quietly. "Kate will hit Edinburgh in the next few days... An' then there's Fiona."

"We'll see." Alex refused to make promises, deeply concerned at the odd angle Sam's leg was twisted. "Soma. Riley. Anything I need to know about? I didn't see you two get hit but I need you to tell me for sure."

"I'm okay, just some bruises from a fast pickup. Nothing broken," Soma muttered, staring past Alex into the tent, worried about his mother more than anything else.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm fine." Riley said as she squeezed her brother and then glanced at her father. "Da, you need to be seen. Soma and I will speak with Kate about her wishes. If I can take up your position among the troops, I will."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ain't gonna be much use in a fight for a bit anyway, save in the saddle." Sam sighed heavily and followed Alex into the tent. With past victories, there had always been cause for celebration. But no one felt triumphant after this one.

"Hey," Andre spoke up as he joined the siblings, kissing Riley before hugging her and Soma tightly. "Rikke's being patched up. I told her to stick with Schaller after." He didn't have to mention what had happened with Fiona to let them know it'd deeply disturbed him. "Some of the unscathed Riders are heading out to spread the word and gather the armies for Edinburgh. Kate wants to secure it as fast as possible so we have a stronghold and a place for the wounded to recover in comfort."

Looking to Riley, he muttered, "I'm gonna go get Ma and some of the family. I think we all need our loved ones here after this nightmare. I can send someone else if you need me to stay, though." He didn't know whether he would be more useful to Riley and Fiona or as a runner, but he couldn't sit still.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, you're right to want to go collect them. I'm sure Uka would want to see Ma, too." Riley murmured as she hugged her husband tightly. "I'll see to the dragons and Soma can see to Aunt Kate. We do what we know. It's the least that we can do for Ma and Da."

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre held them both for a long moment, not needing to say a word to let them know how glad he was that they'd made it through. "The reins are back in your hands, little guy," Andre told Soma quietly. "Something tells me you need the project. Alex and Yasmine will make sure your Ma's cared for." With a final kiss for Riley, Andre stepped away to borrow an unscathed dragon so Rikke could rest and stay with her father.

The entire fight had lasted no longer than ten minutes. It was only a short while after dawn still. Everyone was exhausted from weeks of tension, but too stressed and disturbed after the fight to rest. Soma went to his aunt both for comfort and the next phase of their plans, and many of the Ghis busied themselves gathering the fallen.

The handful of dead dragons were respectfully brought together and laid peacefully in a line, kept separate from Hesperus. The dead Riders were laid among their partners and comrades, all to be given the same honor of a pyre with those they fought and died beside.

Meanwhile, Markos was the only one to approach Hesperus, quietly circling his huge form before coming to his split-open chest to extract the glaive still stuck in his heart. He then also retrieved Fiona's lost axe and climbed up on Hesperus's head to begin the slow, arduous task of removing a horn. As he'd said to Fiona at Tanya's request, he would allow a horn to become Joachim Hendrik's gravestone. It was all Markos could do to distract himself from his immense heartache, silent and stoic unlike his usual disposition.