Because Of Her

After Nimueh got information about Alethea from Lady Silvermist, she then went together with all of her swordswomen to the Black Forest.

Her swordswomen were all dressed in red, fitted clothes, and each of them either had a sword, or a bow and arrow on them as they marched the forest grounds as if going out for war.

On their way, Nimueh saw purple gemstones on some trees, and she laughed bitterly. "So this was why I couldn't sense that damned Princess." She said, as she aggressively removed any gemstone that she saw on their way.

Meanwhile, at Alethea's house, the initiates were all outside, waiting for Cedric and Alethea to finish packing up, so they could leave for the Oakwood temple immediately.

Cedric carried Alethea's bag, and said to her, "I've packed everything that you will be needing. Let's hurry up, and get going."

Alethea nodded, and put on her black cloak, covering her head with the hood. As they came out of the house, an arrow was then suddenly fired towards Alethea, but Cedric swiftly moved her away, before it could hit her.

He then quickly pushed Alethea back into the house. "Just stay here for a second." He said to the shocked Alethea, as he shut the door.

Nimueh's swordswomen then came out, revealing themselves, as they charged at the initiates with their swords.

The initiates were shocked by this, but they were prepared and immediately sprang into action, shielding themselves with their own swords against the enemy.

Nimueh also arrived at the house, and observed what was going on. "So the Sacred fire circle, who are supposed to be loyal subjects to the throne, are working together to hide a cursed child?" She said, as she shook her head. "You are outnumbered, so drop your weapons, or you will all end up fighting to your deaths."

The initiates continued defending themselves, ignoring Nimueh's words. "Alright then." Nimueh said with a smirk gracing her face. "Kill them all!" She yelled.

The initiates didn't budge, and continued to fight against the swordswomen, killing them off with superb skills. If not that they were outnumbered, they would have come out victorious from the fight.

The clashing of swords continued to sound in the air, and Alethea helplessly stayed back in the house, worried sick for the initiates, and at the same time, fearing for her life.

As the fight went on, one of the initiates' sword then got knocked off from his hand, and he was now in trouble, but the rest of the initiates came to his aid immediately, protecting him.

But they soon started to get weak, and their moves weren't as precise and efficient as it was when the fight had just started. As a result, one of them got stabbed from the back, and he fell to the ground.

"Eunuch!" One of them shouted, and came to his aid, as he tried to fight off those of the swordswomen that were coming at them, but at the end, he also got slashed with their swords multiple times, making him also fall to the ground.

With two of the initiates down, they were now at a disadvantage, and just like that, one by one, they were killed by Nimueh's swordswomen.

Cedric who was the most skilled among them saw this happen before his eyes, and he got enraged. "No!!!" He yelled in agony as the last one of them fell to the ground.

It was then only him against the rest of the swordswomen, and from the back, he was cuffed on the wrist of both of his hands with chains, limiting his movements, as they pulled at the chains, causing him to be in so much pain.

"Foolish bastards!" Nimueh cussed as she moved towards him. "Do you even know what kind of curse is upon that girl?… The fact that you all are dying like this, is all because of her curse."

The door to the house then suddenly opened, as Alethea stepped out. "What do you mean by that?" Alethea asked, as she looked at Nimueh, "What do you mean, everything is all because of me?"

Nimueh slowly walked towards Alethea, as she eyes her in awe. It felt like a dream to be seeing the very person she thought had died, many years ago.

"Pitiful thing. Nobody told you about your curse?" Nimueh said as she got close, "All the people you love will die, and all the people that love you will die, too. That is the curse that is upon you."

Nimueh's words served as a big blow to Alethea, as it was all starting to make sense now. This was why she had been kept in hiding for eighteen good years of her life. And now that she had come out of hiding, she had caused her beloved brother to be sick, and now, almost all the initiates had been killed, also because of her.

While all these thoughts were clouding Alethea's mind, she didn't see that Nimueh had come very close to her, until Nimueh enveloped her in a hug.

"Are you sad, my child?" Nimueh whispered mockingly to her. "Are you miserable? So why did you have to be born? No one wanted you to be." Then she released Alethea from the hug.

"Do you wish to save everyone?" Nimueh asked, and when she saw the look of curiosity in Alethea's eyes, she then said, "If you do wish that, then all you have to do is die. Just you."

Alethea's tears fell as Nimueh's words echoed in the dark night, and then Nimueh stepped back, as she signaled to her swordswomen to come forward.

The swordswomen obediently did as told, and moved towards Alethea, pointing the tips of their swords at her.

"Stop!" Ronan shouted at the top of his voice, as he ran into the compound. He paused when he saw most of the initiates lying on the ground, but he continued and pushed his way past Nimueh's swordswomen, until he was standing in front of Alethea.

He then faced Nimueh, who was surprised that he still came to stop her, despite the warning and grace she had given him through his wife.

"Stop this." He said to her, "You cannot take this child away!"

"Don't get in my way, Sir Ronan. I won't forgive anyone who meddles any further, even if it's you!" She said, and waited for him to move aside.

While Nimueh and her swordswomen were distracted, Cedric got rid of the chains that were restraining him, and swiftly pick up his large sword, slashing at anyone that was in his way, as he went and stood in front of Ronan, and Alethea.

"Sir, please run away with Alethea. I'll keep them busy." Cedric said, as he continued to attack anyone of them that dared to step forward.

Ronan immediately took Alethea's hands and they ran to through the backyard into the woods.

"Chase after him and the Princess!" Nimueh yelled, "We can't afford to lose them at this point."

"Anyone who wants to get to them, would have to go through me first." Cedric said as he slashed his sword at the air. "Who wants to be the first to join me on the path to the afterlife?"