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Date Posted: 08:04:28 12/27/01 Thu
Author: Leigh
Subject: Re: Orignal Gemstone 13
In reply to: Leigh 's message, "Orignal Gemstone" on 03:53:05 12/24/01 Mon


Michael cried out as he saw Rhus thrust Aella's body to the side and begin to crawl toward where Nikita lay. Summoning up every last ounce of strength he had, Michael flung himself forward, knocking Rhus back and away from Nikita.
All of the fury that had been mounting inside of Michael erupted and he lashed out over and over. When it was done Rhus lay bloodied and beaten. Michael took hold of his sword, anger still brimming in his eyes, and with a great shout he swung the blade down, separating flesh from bone. He struggled to his feet then, grasping Rhus’s severed head and held it high for the soldiers about him to see. "Behold!" he shouted.

Slowly the battling around him ceased. Vatian warriors, with their backs to Michael, raised their swords and formed a protective circle around him, guarding both him and their fallen M’yrene. The Scythians, those who were nearest, slowly lowered their weapons, debating their next move.

“Your leader is fallen!" Michael shouted. "Rhus is fallen and I, Michael of the family Wolfe hereby stake claim to what is rightfully mine. I command you, soldiers of Taranis, to lay down your weapons or face destruction."

There rose a murmuring as the men stared dumbfounded at each other. Not certain what to do now that the man who had led them into war was dead, and the rightful heir to their lands was demanding they stop fighting. Then one man, short and burly, stepped forward and addressed Michael.

"Why should we listen to you? You have betrayed your own blood and your people!"

"I betrayed no one," Michael stated. "Rhus sought to take what you all know to be rightfully mine. He and his brothers, my uncles, desired to use your lives to further their own causes. I offer you back your lives. And a chance to live peacefully alongside the Vatians."

Michael looked into the eyes of the men nearest him, seeing the doubt in their eyes. He lowered the grisly trophy he held in his hands down, dropping it next to its body, then looked once more at the men. "Choose for yourself whether you will follow my uncle in death, or follow me and live."

He turned then and went to where his beloved lay, no longer caring of what happened around him. He examined Nikita, feeling her brow, checking her pulse. Then, in one fluid move, he lifted her into his arms and looked at the anxious eyes of her warriors. "She lives," he said, his voice hoarse. "But barely." His eyes pleaded with them, knowing that by law they owed him nothing. "Please," he implored, "help me save her."

There was movement and the woman he recognized as Barra, one of Nikita's commanders, stepped forward. "Give her to us to hold while you mount," she ordered. "The nearest physician is at Fort Archon."

"Not so."

All eyes turned toward the burly Scythian who had stepped forward earlier. He looked about at the other Scythians as if to see if there was anyone wanting to challenge what he was about to do. But there was only silence and an odd nod of the head here and there.

"There is a physician amongst us," he said, pointing with his head back toward the camp. He saw the look of distrust in the eyes of the Vatians, and he lifted his chin. "If we are to live in peace, there must be trust."

Barra stared at him for several long seconds before finally nodding. "Very well," she said. "We will bring the M'yrene to your camp."

************

Michael strode quickly down the hall and into Nikita's room. He was weary from the ordeal of the past few days, but it was finally over. All of Scythia was under his control.

After making certain everything that could be done for Nikita was being carried out, he had led his army, the men of Taranis, into Sidha. Barra informed him that the night before, Nikita had ordered a second Vatian force to launch a frontal attack against Megara and Stephen's forces that were gathering there. By sweeping his men in from the south, while Nikita's warriors moved in from the north, the two armies were able to surround Megara and Stephen. The former was killed in battle and shortly afterward Stephen surrendered.

Michael returned to Taranis as soon as he was able to secure the two provinces, placing his own men in position to guard those of Megara and Stephen's men who still objected to his taking control. But when he reached Taranis he found that Madeline had arrived and moved Nikita back to Themiscya. As tired as he was, Michael turned around and headed straight for Nikita's home.

He entered Nikita's room and stepped inside. Beside the bed was seated a dark haired woman who turned to look at him as he entered.

"You must be Michael," she said, her voice even as she looked him over from head to toe.

"And you must be Nikita's mother."

They stared at one another. Then Madeline rose to her feet, looking regal in the plain white robe that wrapped around her body. She stared at him with eyes that were dark and cool. Then clasped her hands in front of her and raised her chin slightly. "There is no need for you to return here," she said to him. "I will see to it that the M'yrene is well taken care of.

Michael moved forward. He stopped two feet away from the dark haired woman and met her gaze without flinching. "I know you love your daughter," he said quietly. "So do I."

He stepped around her and went to Nikita's bedside. Sorrow welled up within him at seeing her still form. She appeared so vulnerable. It tore at his heart and he was forced to close his eyes. "If she wakes and tells me to leave, I will obey her wish. But until then I will not leave her side."

Madeline sighed, then walked over and stood next to Michael. She stared at his fingers, the way they caressed Nikita's hand. "Things will not be easy between you two," she said. "Even if you have managed to win back your inheritance. There are differences in your world and ours. Differences that will be difficult to overcome."

"I realize that," Michael answered, then turned to meet Madeline's gaze. "The inheritance means nothing to me. I would have gladly lived without it in order to remain at Nikita's side. I've come to realize though that I need Scythia in order for my union with Nikita to work. This way there will be peace between our people. They will learn to live side by side, just as Nikita and I will. They will learn to respect each other, as Nikita and I respect one another. I will not try to usurp her power, if that is what you are concerned about," he said to Madeline. "Instead I pledge to devote my life and all that is within my control to serving her.

Looking down at Nikita, Michael's gaze softened and his voice filled with his love for her. "Our destinies are intertwined," he whispered. "We belong together."

Madeline stood silently for several minutes, thinking over all that Michael had said. Then with an inward sigh she relented. "Very well," she said. "I'll leave you to watch over her tonight. When Nikita is strong enough, and if she still so desires, I will arrange for the exchange of vows ceremony that will complete your union."

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