Authors Note: This is the third of my stories of Alelneia, and serves as the finale to the original trilogy.  I may or may not write more, as my mood sets.  Alelneia, the world of Panthelia, and all it’s denizens are my property, and I ask you speak with me before you post this story or distribute it.
 
 
 

Introduction:

     The campfire cast an eerie glow to the face of the man as he spoke to his followers “I’m telling you!  It’s a perfect set up.  Those women think they are strong, but they are nothing!  With our strength, we can overwhelm that puny village and take everything we want.  We can take their valuables, and we can take the women themselves.  Heh, believe me, there is no feeling quite like taking a woman who thinks it could never happen to her!”

     “But Berthold”, a thin man with a scar across his face answered, “Wasn’t it one of those weak women who put you in prison?  I mean, you only escaped a week ago!”

     “Yes” Berthold responded.  “But believe me, I mean to make her pay for that.  Now, who’s with me?”

      The mob of thieves, brigands, cutthroats and general troublemakers around the campfire roared their approval.  Berthold had never led them wrong.  When he promised booty and women, it was party time.
 

Part I:

    Alelneia sighed as she removed the yellow collar from around her neck.  She truly hated the Day of Judgements, as she was forced to sit in judgement of the offenses of the residents of her village.  It was all just so petty.  However, the thing that bothered her was not so much the serving as judge, but the reason she had to do it. It was a job her aunt, the queen should have been doing, but her aunts health had taken a turn for the worse, and Queen Adalain was barely able to get out of bed, and was totally unable to eat anything.  So, over the last few weeks, Alelneia had found herself taking on more and more of the duties of queen, duties she knew would be hers officially in a distressingly short period of time.

   She was preparing to go to her aunt’s room, when the door burst open.  In it roared a large woman, one of the largest of the amazons.  She was nearly 6 feet tall, and built thickly, though not fat at all.  As soon as Alelneia saw her, she sighed.

    “What is it this time Bajornig?” Alelneia asked in resignation.

    “You know what it is!  You’ve grown soft! You know that?  There was a time that I thought you would be a great queen!  You understood strength and discipline!  You had a spine!  But ever since you left the village that time, you have been as spineless as your aunt!”

     Alelneia silently bristled at this mention of her dying aunt, but decided not to make an issue of it.  However, the taller woman kept on “And now today!  That girl who was brought before you.  She is within a year of her trials!  She needs to be training every day, yet, when she misses a few days, you go easy on her!  You don’t have her punished, or anything! What is wrong with you?  You are going to take the heart out of us!”

    “Oh, come now Bajornig.  That girl’s mother was sick, and she was taking care of her.  It’s a case that would never have come up if people like you weren’t pushing to see how far you can go with me.”

    “Bah!  Weak excuses and flabby women! That’s all we will have left if you get your way!  But you! You are the corrupter of our people!  You weaken our people, take away that which makes us great.  And now, yes now, you cavort with mages!  We have seen you with the redheaded one.  You have betrayed the most basic rule of our people!”

   “Heh, I find it interesting that you adore the strength of the body, but reject strength of the mind, and strength of the soul so easily” Alelneia retorted.

   “I tell you this, if you do not change your ways, you will lead our people to disaster!”  With those words, Bajornig stormed out of the tent, her blond hair flying in the wind as went.

    Several days later, Alelneia was in her hut when Lissette, who Alelneia had made a messenger of sorts, nudged her out of her sleep.   “Big sister? Big sister?  Princess?  The Queen is getting worse, and she wishes to speak with you”

    Alelneia quickly put on her tunic and strode over to Adalain’s hut.  It was still early in the morning, maybe 2 hours before the dawn.  As she went in, she gasped at seeing her aunt.  Adalain’s face was a pasty gray, and she seemed barely to have the strength to move.  However, she did have something to say.

    “Alelneia, the daughter I never had”, Adalain said as she smiled weakly.  “I’m glad I had the chance to see what kind of woman you have become.  I’ll be honest, there was a time not long ago I had my doubts, but now, I can see that you will be a great queen, maybe the greatest our people have ever had.  It will be your turn soon my child”

   “No! I don’t want to lose you!” Alelneia sobbed, as she held her aunt’s head to her shoulder.  I don’t want to be alone, and, and, I’m just not ready yet” she finished in a small, weak voice.

    “Yes my dear, you are.  Just by saying you are not ready shows how ready you are.  The ones who are overwhelmed by the task are the ones who will do it well.  I worry about the ones who think they will are ready”.

   “But, but, my queen, I have questions.  I do not know that our way is right any more.  I mean, sure, we need to be ready for enemies, but is to live a life based on strength, on fighting, is it really right?”  Alelnia said, surprising herself, as her deepest thoughts came flooding out.

   “You are right” Adalain said with a smile.  “There is more to life than strength and fighting.  Our ways, they are rigid, they are harsh.  Maybe it is time for them to change.  Our people must learn that we do not fight for fightings sake, but when there is a good reason.  Teach them.”

    The two women looked into one another’s eyes for a long moment, as they tried to come to terms with what was happening, when suddenly a horn sounded from the north side of the camp.

   Alelneia rushed outside, and saw a large band of men in the shadows advancing into the village, with clubs and swords in their hands.  At their head, she hissed as she recognized Berthold.  She quickly instructed Lisette to sound the alarm and try to rouse the warriors of the village.

   The next few minutes were a blur as Alelneia stood upon the high porch of her aunts hut, directing her warriors to one place, and then another as they awoke.  She wished desparately to join the fray, but somehow, deep down, she knew her moment had not yet come, but she knew that it would come.  The brigands were slowly but surely gaining the upper hand, as they took advantage of the surprise and confusion caused by their predawn attack.  After a few moments, Bajornig  came to Alelneia, demanding to be sent into the thick of the fight.  However, Alelneia had a distant look in her eyes, as she scanned the battlefield.  Soon, she found what she was looking for.  Berthold was in the front and center of his forces, screaming at them to press the attack.

     “Now is the time” Alelneia said in a quiet voice.  “If we can take down Berthold, maybe it will take the heart out of this rabble”

      “Yes!” Bajornig screamed.  “I’ll take care if it right away.”

      “No” Alelneia said, as she reached out a hand to block the taller womans path.  “My fight. My battle”  She jumped down from her perch and strode with purpose to where Berthold stood with a short sword in his hands.

      “Ah, there you are little missy! I thought you were hiding under your bed!  Of course, considering what I plan to do to you, your bed would be a good spot to be” Berthold said with cruel hatred in his voice.

     Alelneia advanced wordlessly, taking a low fighting stance.  Berthold circled her, and from his stance, it was obvious that he was not taking this fight lightly, not this time.  He knew that this was an opponent that he would have to use all his skills to beat.   He made the first attack, as he slashed his sword toward her leg.  As Alelneia jumped back to avoid the slash, Berthold followed by swinging at her with his other hand.  She ducked the blow, and they both backed apart, warily, as this first exchange led to nothing.

    “What’s a matter dearie?  All afraid to attack now are you?”  Berthold taunted her.   All around the battlefield, the pace of battle slowed, as everyone was keeping an eye on this central fight.  Suddenly, Berthold lunged with his sword.  Alelneia ducked inside the blow, and whipped a kick into Berthold’s ribs.  Berthold grunted, but used his arm to trap Alelneia’s leg against his body.  Even as she tried to regain her balance, Berthold pulled his sword back, and drove it deeply into her shoulder.   Alelneia writhed in pain as she pulled herself back, and her own blood soaked her tunic.   Seeing his advantage, Berthold pushed his attack, slashing at her again, and cutting deeply into her left thigh.

   Berthold’s men roared their approval, as they saw their leader taking the measure of the amazon woman.  He raised his sword one last time, preparing to issue the killing blow.  He slashed his sword sideways, aiming for the womans neck.  However, Alelneia ducked the blow, and sidestepped Berthold.  As she got to his side, she kicked into the back of his knee, driving him to his own knees.  She slipped behind him, and using her good arm, she cradled the back of his head with her forearm, even as his face was buried under her shoulder.  With one quick jerk, she yanked up on his neck, with a sick cracking noise.  Berthold slumped to the ground, never to rise again.

   Even as Berthold fell, Alelneia fell to the ground, on her hands and knees.  She dimly heard the cheers of the amazons, and the cries of disbelief of the brigands.  Then, as she looked at the pool of blood forming underneath her, the sounds around her grew dim, and the world began to spin.
 

   Epilogue

    Alelneia awoke, wondering why her shoulder hurt her so much.  Then she remembered everything that had happened.  With a start, she opened her eyes, and saw Lisette sitting there, snoozing in a chair.  Alelneia tried to say something, but all that came out was a weak croak, however, it was enough to awaken the young girl.

    “Big sister!  You are awake!  I’ll be right back” she said, as she scooted out of the cabin.

   A few moments later, Lisette returned with Bajornig.  “Um, well, I guess I should say I’m sorry.  I’m still not sure of the way you do things, but I should have never doubted your own courage.”  The tall blonde raised a hand as Alelneia tried to speak.  “Just rest, you have been asleep for 3 days now.  It worked out just like you planned. As soon as Berthold fell, the others ran.  I don’t think they got very far though.  For some reason, they tried to go through the region of the trolls, and Fred and some of his friends had a merry little hunt.  But, now, you need to go back to sleep my queen”.