I Refuse

For a moment, Ashlynn stared at Hauke's stooped figure, too stunned by the ancient spirit's proposal to articulate her thoughts. The cold wind blowing across the mountainside and the creak of weapons and armor from both Nyrielle's army and the forces on the walls were the ounly sounds in the barren landscape between the two. 

"Ha ha, haha, ha, ha," Ashlynn laughed, finally lowering the Holy Flame Blade and allowing it's flames to fade away. The muscles of her arm shook with relief and her whole body relaxed as she let go of the tension of maintaining her threatening posture to laugh at the ancient spirit's proposal. 

"Drop your sword," Ashlynn told the old woman possessing Hauke. "I accept your surrender. Since you understand that you are defeated, we don't need to make this any uglier do we?" Ashlynn asked with a light smile on her face.