Mariana waited patiently while she sat on the icy steps, her fingers fiddled with the long-laced material of her bracelet. The anxiety that crept in the back of her mind made her feel uncomfortable in her own skin.

The Aristocrats who had been alarmed had quite down, yet the air was bitter and cold. Some who were to stuck up from their egos left for home since the servant had ruined their night while other stayed behind to continue to whisper and gossip about such event maybe create new rumours.

She had all these scenarios running through her mind like wildfire.

"My Lady." A sound of a deep worried voice made Mariana snapped out of her eternal thoughts and she looked up to see a rough looking man gazing down at her so worriedly. She saw her own reflection in his sharp teal eyes.

"Sir Soren, should you not be by father side?" she questioned. Soren Lermontov, her father's personal knight who pledged great loyalty to Ophir 21 years ago. He is a great swordsman with a tall and great built who towers over anyone. Because of his roug h face with a claw like scar across cheek and sharp eyes that could bring any be ast down to their knees, Sir Soren was misunderstood by the people as being rough and aggressive but was very gentle who had a soft spot for children. He was always seen playing snowballs with the local children, paying a visit to the orphanage, or seen helping kids off the street.

Soren only stared at her with a stern look. "My apologies my lady but his grace had ordered me to stay by your side as he goes to check on the situation" he explained.

Mariana shook her head in a disagreement. "No, you should have gone with father. I fear something dreadful will happen and your not there to protect father" her eyes glittered with tears.

For a slight second Soren was caught off guard by her words, but his expression returned to normal. Seeing the young lady of the Lancaster's, he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. "For you my lady" he said.

Mariana accepted the handkerchief from Sir Soren's hand with a smile and a polite thank you that made Soren smile in return.

"Your father has always been a strong man, mentally, physically, and spiritually. There was a quite a few times where he had saved me, and it always made me rethink to myself if I was worthy of staying by his side if he was the one protecting me instead." Soren chuckled lightly to himself as his eyes could be seen remembering those times then to shake his head in shame.

Hearing those compliments about her father made her heart ease just by a little. It made her proud to be related to such a brave and strong man.

However deep down something still bugged within her and it turned her expression sorrow. Her lips were drawn in tightly and her thin eyebrows lowered to come together.

"Thank you, Sir Soren, but I will feel at ease if you return to my father's sidewhere you belong." Mariana did not look at him but to stare at those shiny sabaton shoes he wore on his feet.

Sir Soren could not disobey his grace's orders. If he would leave her here without any protection, she will be an easy target for anyone. Not like there are many Lancaster knights around to prevent such situations to happen to their lady but the fact that Sir Soren has no trust in their skills.

He did not want the same assassination to attempt of the Grand Duchess of Isvand from 15 years ago to happen to Mariana as well. Soren will kill himself if Mariana was to get attacked because he was not here to prevent it.

Soren was not going to leave Mariana side even if she insisted. Mariana is precious to Ophir, and the duke would do anything to keep her safe even if it means to do the unspeakable in order to prevent any harm to come to his only child. Ophir could not bear another loss of his loved ones and neither does Soren want to see Ophir in the same state when he had lost Meryn that awful night by the hands of those monsters who call themselves humans.

In the slight moment when Sir Soren was about to speak in disagreement, a sharp cut of air had caught Sir Soren to act up instantly. Without a moment to lose he unsheathed his sword, sliding in front of Mariana and slicing the shard of ice like hot metal against butter.

The screams of nobles rattled the ball room and people began to run for their lives.

Mariana felt her heart jump out her chest, her eyes shaken with fear as it gazed at Sir Soren's back who slid in front of her to protect her from the in coming ice shard that had intended to end her life.

Soren's eyes glared like an alpha wolf at the one man who dared to blast ice magic at the lady of Isvand.

Commander Zadkiel of the Emperor's army stood in front of the giant entrance with a few of his royal guards behind him, raised with weapons in the grips of their palms. Zadkiel's metal armour shone against the crystal light of the ball room where he stood with an ice sword firmly grasped in his right hand while a deathly glare stared at the two traitors. With a raise of his sword which pointed at Soren and Mariana, he announced "By the order of the Great Emperor Adrastos, Mariana's head will be piked upon the gates of the Oighir prison and anyone who dares to defy his orders shall join her and her father" the commander declared.

Mariana's heart lurched in her chest as those words came crashing down on her and burying her alive in anguish. Salty tears began to sting the corner of her eyes as her trembling hand found its way to her mouth and she let out a sorrowful gasp. 'Father'

A dark shadow had loomed over Soren's face, and his jaw clenched shut so tightly. He could not comprehend what he had just heard, his body stiffen in place and overwhelmed by shock that he had felt his knees nearly betray him.

Soren's hand gripped the handle of his blade tighter but his hands quivered and the feeling of bitter ice ran through his blood. Whoever they may be, King, queen, or commander he was not going to let them lay a finger on Mariana. He was going to protect to the bitter end even if he has to lay down his life for Mariana then so be it.

He was not going to let harm get to Mariana as he promised his lord.

Blood shot eyes stared like an angry wolf at his enemy as he bared his teeth "If you want lady Mariana then you have to get through me first, you bastards!" Soren hissed, sending a ripple of ice through his sword, enchanting it with magic to enhance his blows making it glow a bright blue hue.

Zadkiel frowned, glaring those steel eyes at Soren as he took those words as an insult to the emperor. "If that is what you choose then prepare to die, Soren Lermontov".

"I will gladly die protecting my lady then to hand her over to the likes of you like a cowardly fox to protect my own skin"

The only few Lancaster knights that had attended the banquet had come to back their captain up, each and every one of them standing side beside with their swords in hand as water and ice magic erupted through their hands and iron blades, waiting for a fight that will probably their last.

The commander of the royal guards clicked his tongue and frowned upon the traitors. "Kill them all. Don't leave a single one alive" Zadkiel commanded his knights in which they responded in a run towards Soren and his men, blades cutting the air as they lunged forward.

Soren took the first attack, dodging the incoming blade of the knight so swiftly then to swing his blade down diagonally and cutting the man open. Blood burst out the lifeless body and splattered itself on Soren's armour, leaving drizzle of blood sliding down the armour plate.

Soren's men followed suit, each one laying their life for their princess.

Zadkiel watched his men go down one by one, growled beneath his breath. Huffing in annoyance and anger, he brought his arm up and began circling his magic between the centre of his palm. The cold seized through his veins and his fingertips twinkled lightly with blistering cold that did not faze him. His light blue eyes glowed for a mere second and then a blast of ice wave exploded out his palm.

Soren watched the ice magic come towards and his men like a tsunami, and without a single second to lose, Soren brought his blade to his eye level and summoned as much magic as he could in his blade. His teal eyes began to glow vibrantly, and a circle of glowing water surrounded him.

With a powerful slash through the air, the blade sent out a sharp ripple of water through the air and at the waves of ice. The wave of ice shattered when the water had hit it causing a huge blizzard to collide.

A grin twisted in the corners of Soren's lips and his glowing teal eyes gazed bitterly at Zadkiel furious scowl. "A coward would always stay behind, sending his magic while his men fight for him" Soren ridiculed, twirling his blade beside him. "Use your sword and fight me like a man. You hog"

Anger griped the mind of Zadkiel and a wave of magic burst up from the ground and swept around him like fog. Blue eyes glowed like crystals and his blade fumed with magic.

Soren knew that his magic and swordman's skills could not be compared to that man's ability and he knew that he would die by his hands however he was not going to let that stop him. He promised Ophir he would protect his daughter and that is what he will do. It his duty to protect any member of the Lancaster family and he won't back down.

With a roaring battle cry, Soren and Zadkiel lunged towards one another, their powerful blade enhanced with their magical abilities collided with a loud clash resulting a powerful invisible force to explode out causing a rumble of the huge crystal pillars and the icy floor that shook like an earthquake.

Mariana was shield by a Lancaster knight who used a water shield to prevent the impact of the invisible force to harm his lady. Lady Mariana shielded herself in her arms, her tears had blurred away most of her vision as a whirlpool of dread surrounded her. 'Father where are you? I'm scared'

"My Lady you must leave this place. It is not safe" the knight said glancing behind himself when the force had vanished. "You must run to the back entrance and escape"

Mariana shook her head, hand clasped around her mouth as more warm tears trickled down her cheeks. "No. I can't leave without my father" Her voice trembled. "Not without Sir Soren or anyone".

The knight could not help but smile behind his helmet, but it ached his heart knowing that none of them were going to make it alive except for Mariana.

"My Lady you must go!" Soren cried out as he blocked another one of Zadkiel's swings. "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT US!" he shouted again and this time he sent a blast of sharp water at Zadkiel which he dodged just in time, yet it left a scratch on his right cheek.

The knight who had shield Mariana blocked an incoming blade which sent him to one knee, as he struggled to keep his blade in balance with the enemy blade, he breathed out "Go now Milady!"

This left no choice for Mariana. The lady of Isvand staggered up, her knees trembled, and the burning of her throat left her throat raw. Her heart clenched in her chest and the sound of blades crashing against one another and the flesh being torn by metal echoed in her ears.

Lifting her skirt by a little, Mariana closed her eyes, shutting away everything and ran, ran as fast as her heels could take her.

A ragged cry burst out and the sound of shattering ice spike wafted past Mariana's ears. The lady turned to look back and her eyes shook, heartbeat had stopped for a second. The knight who saved her was spiked in the air by an ice shard and his body dangled down. His blood splattered the floor like waterfall and drizzled down the spike as it coated the crystal-clear ice into a blistering red.

Mariana bit back a cry, hot tears streaming down her cheeks as she turned away instantly and closed her eyes to sniff back the tears. 'Please forgive me'

Soren continually swung his blade as it clashed against the commander who blocked it with his sword. Their blades collided as sparks flew from the friction of their impacted swords.

Zadkiel leaped back as an incoming force of the Lancaster captain's sword enhanced with water magic come slashing down. As the blade missed it's target, it impacted the ice floor, creating a large crater that rumbled the ball room.

The commander of the royal guard rose up, face frowning at Soren"You've grown stronger the last time we fought" Zadkiel snared bringing his blade to the side of his face with two hands, the metal reflecting his glowing blue eyes. Zadkiel had forced more magic into his blade and was ready to strike again.

Soren huffed a chuckle in a flatter at the words coming from a strong swordsmanship "I've learnt a few things along the way" the captain copied the same stance as Zadkiel, blade raise to his side with his hands and his reflection glowing with blue power.

As they charged with another battle cry, Zadkiel swung his blade at Soren with forceful blow. Soren dived down in time before the blade swung, slicing a giant crystal pillar in half with a clean cut. Zadkiel blowed out in frustration, his brows coming down to form an irritated scowl.

Taking this chance Soren made his move, aiming the blade at the defend less stomach of Zadkiel, he pushed his heels from the ground and lunged himself towards his enemy. His hands gripped around the handle of his blade so tightly as he shot more of his magic through his blade.

For a moment Soren had thought he had won against one of the greatest swords masters in Isvand, but the blade was caught by a hand in mere seconds. Teal blue eyes widened in shock as it watched the hand grasp firmly at the blade as it bleed and dripped down his sword.

Zadkiel had caught the blade with the one hand in time before the sharp ice blade pierced his stomach that was inches away from the tip of the blade. Light blue eyes glared down at the furious teal eyes that glared back up at him. "I will never go down by a mere knight" he hissed, ice began to spark through the hand that held the blade, it's crystallising ice began to turn the blade into fragile ice.

Soren used his remain force to push the blade back by the ice summoned by Zadkiel kept him it in place.

Zadkiel brought his sword up in the air, eyes glittering with victory while a smirk twisted in his sickening face. "Now die!".

Zadkiel had thought he would be able to kill him now however a giant shadow hovered over them. The two slowly lifted their heads up, pairs of shocked eyes glazed up at the falling pillar that was going to crush them. The crystal pillar that Zadkiel cut through with his blade came tumbling down above them, it took a moment of seconds for Zadkiel to loosen his strength on the blade, Soren knowing if he didn't move quickly, he will be crushed however if he did then he will continue to fight this guy knowing he will lose.

Soren bit back his tongue and cursed under his breath for being weak.

'For lady Mariana and Lord Ophir!'

Soren took the chance and twisted the handle of his sword 180˚ and the blade twisted with it resulting and the ice to break under Zadkiel's hand, with the remaining energy left Soren drove his blade through the hand and into the stomach of the commander who let out a cry of agony that rang the ball room.

The walls began to crumble down as Mariana reached the back entrance, the back of her ankles were blistered and sore. Her throat was raw from the hard panting of her breaths and her headache as if someone was hitting her with a rock over and over again.

When Mariana had brought herself to safety through the back entrance a sound of agony cried out before it was taken over by thunderous roar of a dragon call. Mariana turned her head to look back, her black pupils dilutes at what she saw before her eyes.

Soren had his blade piercing through Zadkiel while they stood under a falling crystal pillar as the crystal ballroom crumbled with it. Marbles and crystal came down in blocks and piecing burying the remaining men and the dead with it before a ferocious white dragon had smashed through the crystal ceiling with a deafening roar that brought fear in Mariana's heart.

"SOREN!" her voice cried out to the captain, piercing her raw throat, tears swelled her eyes blurring her vision, but everything quickly darkened when the crumbling ceiling fell down on the back entrance and barracked the ball room for good.

Not a single voice called back, not a sound of a dragon or anyone was to be heard. The giant ball room was buried in blocks of marble and crystal.

"SOREN!"

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