A Warrior's Heart (Shields)

by Grant, Donna

  He had no idea how long he searched her mind, and he was just about to give up when he found what he looked for. With only a thought, he gave the other Chosen Jayna’s memories.

  “Bold move, my friend,” Theron said as he moved beside him.

  Aimery clenched his jaw for he knew he had broken several rules. “Punish me after we defeat the evil.”

  He glanced at the Chosen to see their hands spread over the water, their eyes closed and their mouths moving in a chant.

  He smiled and turned to Gabriel.

  “I need out of these stones, Aimery,” Val growled. “Gabriel needs us.”

  “Aye,” Roderick, Cole, and Hugh agreed in unison.

  Aimery sighed. “I know you want to help him, but Gabriel must fight this battle alone.”

  Val stepped forward. “I’ll not let him suffer against that Diabolus.”

  Before Aimery could respond Val and the others walked out of the safety of the stones to join Gabriel.

  “Let them go,” Theron said. “They fight as one.”

  Aimery glanced at his king. “Can we win this?”

  “I plan to make sure we do.”

  A slow smile spread over Aimery’s face as the chanting of the Chosen rose in crescendo.

  They had found the key to kill the Great Evil.

  * * * *

  Gabriel knew the Great Evil was purposefully pushing him to become angry, and he knew he should turn away. But he couldn’t. The urge, the need, to retaliate on the evil grew with his every breath.

  “You’ve hunted me for years, toyed with me for too long,” Gabriel called as he spread his arms wide. “You want me? Come and claim me!”

  The malicious laughter that sounded around him brought chills of foreboding to his skin. He tried to see through the dense mist. The Shapeshifter was out there somewhere waiting.

  “The real demonstration is about to begin,” the voice whispered in his ear.

  Just then the mist cleared enough for Gabriel to see the rest of the Shields leaving the sacred stones. He opened his mouth to shout a warning when he was robbed of his speech and jerked back against two trees.

  He could only watch in despair as the Great Evil held him immobile and the Shapeshifter walked towards the Shields...as him.

  Gabriel jerked against his invisible bonds, but the more he struggled against the Great Evil, the less he was able to breath.

  “Just watch, Gabriel,” the Evil said near him. “This could prove interesting.”

  Gabriel tried to turn away, but he couldn’t. He had to know what was going on in case he was able to break free of the Evil. If the Chosen had discovered what they were supposed to do there was a chance the Great Evil would weaken enough for Gabriel to break free.

  His jaw clenched as he watched the Shapeshifter approach his brethren. Gabriel himself had been tricked by the Shapeshifter so he knew just how difficult it was to discern between the creature and the actual person.

  Suddenly, Gabriel had a thought. He called to Aimery hoping the Fae could aid the Shields before the Shapeshifter killed them.

  A tsking noise sounded around him. “Come, come, Gabriel. You didn’t really believe I would hold you here and not block your thoughts from those meddlesome Fae, did you?”

  “You will be defeated,” Gabriel choked out.

  The Great Evil laughed. “I think not. You see, I’ve made sure that I survive. Though the Shields might have found the remaining Chosen, not a single one of them remember what to do.”

  Frustration and anger rolled through Gabriel. “I had the stone they needed. The stone of Elrain.”

  “Aye. I certainly didn’t expect that of you, however that still doesn’t help. The women will fail. Even now they stand over the water wondering what to do, and with Jayna dead, there is no one to help them.”

  “Nay,” Gabriel said, defeat ringing in his ears. He closed his eyes and hung his head.

  “Oh, aye,” the voice murmured. “I warned the Fae long ago that I would not be stopped. They thought to end me the first time, but they only succeeded in killing my body, not my soul.”

  But Gabriel didn’t care. He had failed everyone. Jayna was gone, the Shields were soon to be dead, and the Great Evil would defeat both his realm and the Fae realm simultaneously.

  Don’t give up.

  His head jerked up at the voice in his mind. It had sounded so very much like Jayna, but he knew it couldn’t be her. She was gone from him forever now.

  Unable to stop himself, he turned his gaze to his brethren. They stood facing the Shapeshifter now, speaking to it as if it were Gabriel himself.

  “Nay,” Gabriel ground out as he pulled against the evil. “Nay. Nay. Nay.”

  He had betrayed too many people, failed too many times for him not to warn the Shields what they faced. Even if it meant a slow agonizing death he would strain against the evil.

  With each pump of his heart he felt power flow into him. His muscles strained, his blood pulsed, and his heart pounded like thunder. His only thought to warn the Shields, to give them the time they needed to see that it wasn’t him they spoke with.

  “Give up,” the Great Evil taunted. “You will only succeed in bringing about your own death.”

  But Gabriel refused to listen.

  Every breath became more difficult to take, yet Gabriel didn’t stop. He could feel his skin stretching against the Evil’s hold, feel the burn as the Great Evil fought to keep him against the tree.

  Just as he was about to give up, Gabriel found his feet touching the ground. He blinked and glanced at the Shields. Based on the way Val glared at the Shapeshifter, something was about to happen. And Gabriel needed to be there.

  Deep, ragged breathing reached his ears, and a smile pulled at his lips. The Chosen had succeeded. They had recalled the chant that would weaken and ultimately destroy the evil.

  Gabriel didn’t stop to gloat or even taunt the Great Evil. He continued to push against the evil, and little by little he felt the iron control of the Great Evil slipping. Gabriel fell face first into the snow.

  He spit the snow from his mouth as he grabbed his weapons and raced toward the Shapeshifter. As he ran in the thick snow, he notched an arrow and knelt to aim. He didn’t hesitate in releasing the arrow, and just when he thought it would puncture the creature’s neck, the Shapeshifter ducked. And Gabriel’s arrow soared harmlessly past.

  “Damn,” Gabriel muttered as he rose to his feet.

  The Shapeshifter turned towards him a sardonic smile. “It’s the Shapeshifter,” the creature said over his shoulder to the Shields.

  “The hell I am,” Gabriel growled as he stalked toward the creature.

  “Which one is Gabriel?” Cole asked as he held up his war axe.

  Hugh held up his hand. “Hold,” he ordered the Shields. “We don’t do anything until we know for sure which is the real Gabriel.”

  “I’m the real Gabriel,” the Shapeshifter stated.

  Gabriel growled as he circled the creature. “Your race was hunted to extinction for a reason. I’m going to end your kind forever now.”

  He didn’t give the creature time to react as he charged and pushed his shoulder into the Shapeshifter’s stomach. He heard a grunt and then a curse as the creature fell to the ground. Gabriel gained his feet first and kicked the shifter in the face twice. The sound of bone crunching brought a smile to Gabriel’s face.

  Blood gushed from the creature’s broken nose. He wiped away the blood as he sat up, his eyes blazing with anger.

  Gabriel motioned for the creature to attack. “What are you waiting for?”

  The creature circled Gabriel slowly. “If you are the real Gabriel, where have you been?”

  Gabriel chuckled. The creature was manipulative, and he needed to remember that. “I was being held, watching as you changed from the Harpy into me.”

  The creature raised his dark brows. “Truly? If the Great Evil did have you, he certainly wouldn’t have let you free.”

 
“He didn’t have much of a choice since the Chosen discovered what needed to be done to destroy him.”

  The creature glanced to the forest behind him, giving Gabriel the time he needed to unsheathe his sword. Before he could sink the blade into the creature’s chest, he rolled out of the way and unsheathed his own sword.

  Gabriel lunged at him, his sword slicing open the Shapeshifter’s chest. He laughed at the look of outrage on the creature’s face.

  “You don’t seriously think I would allow you to harm my friends, did you?” Gabriel asked the creature.

  The Shapeshifter shrugged. “You don’t really have a say in anything.”

  In a blink the Shapeshifter attacked. His sword met Gabriel’s time and again, and each time Gabriel felt more and more of his strength leave him.

  He hissed and leapt back as the creature’s sword left a deep cut in his left shoulder. He glanced down to see how severe the wound was and realized he would have to kill the creature before he himself died.

  Gabriel adjusted his grip on his sword and pivoted swiftly as he brought his sword down and around. As his blade sunk into the shifter’s body he felt a sharp pain in his side. He looked down to see the creature’s blade was embedded in his body.

  With a jerk, Gabriel pulled his sword away from the creature and bit the inside of his mouth from crying out as the sword pulled from his skin.

  Every breath was agonizing torture. Gabriel raised his eyes and watched as the Shifter waned in and out of focus. He blinked several times and felt the world tilt around him.

  He heard a laugh just before he opened his eyes and saw the Shifter attack. Gabriel didn’t know how many times he felt the blade cut into him before he fell to a knee.

  It took every ounce of strength he had to keep the sword in his hand when all he wanted to do was lay down and ease some of his pain.

  He heard voices behind him and made out Val and Cole’s voice though he couldn’t discern what they shouted. He licked his dry lips as he heard the Shifter walk up behind him.

  Gabriel had this one chance to kill the creature, this one chance to end it all. And it was going to take every bit of his strength to do it.

  “Such a pity,” the Shapeshifter whispered. “I had hoped for a better fight from you after listening to the Great Evil talk of how fine a warrior you were.”

  Gabriel pulled his sword next to him as his eyes grew heavier. He could barely move his left arm and his back screamed in pain, but he blocked it all out as he concentrated on the creature behind him.

  As soon as he felt the Shifter raise his sword, Gabriel took a deep breath and jerked his sword backwards. A loud moan resonated around him as his blade sank into the creature’s stomach.

  Gabriel rose to his feet and turned to look at the Shapeshifter. The creature’s eyes grew round as he realized he was finished.

  Without wasting any time, Gabriel pulled his sword from the creature and with one movement of his arm, beheaded him. He watched as the creature’s head fell to the ground with a thud as his body languished upright for a moment before it toppled over and black liquid stained the snow.

  Gabriel turned to his brethren as the Shifter changed from his look-alike to Aimery and then to the Harpy before disappearing. The Shields smiled and took a step toward Gabriel, but the sudden concern in their eyes told Gabriel that all was not over yet.

  “I may not win, but you won’t live to enjoy it,” the Great Evil shouted.

  Gabriel, with no more strength, fell to his knees. There was an odd pain in his chest, which made it difficult to breathe. He raised his gaze to Hugh to see his leader’s face crumple. Gabriel looked down and saw a sword sticking out of him.

  There was a loud bang and a horrible scream behind him, but he couldn’t turn to see if it was the evil. He felt himself falling and winced as the side of his face hit the snow.

  There was so much he wanted to tell the Shields and Aimery, so much they needed to understand. He couldn’t let them think he was evil.

  “Gabriel,” Val shouted as he ran to him. “By the gods, someone do something!”

  Gabriel tried to laugh but only managed to choke on the blood that now filled his mouth. “Nothing to be done.”

  “Shhhh,” Mina said as she bent down to take his hand. “You need your strength.”

  “Sorry,” he said as he looked to each of the Shields. “Made. Mistake.”

  Hugh nodded. “We know, Gabriel. But you saved us and the Fae. That’s all that matters now.”

  Gabriel nodded and began to close his eyes as the world grew dark. “So cold.”

  A memory of him and Jayna by the sea flashed in his mind. Her golden hair blew in the wind as her beautiful hazel eyes sparkled with love and laughter. He could join her now and find the peace she spoke of.

  Aimery raced up to see the Shields and their wives huddled around Gabriel. “Nay,” he whispered as he knelt beside Gabriel. He felt along Gabriel’s neck and found a heartbeat that grew steadily weaker. “Gabriel, nay. Listen to me. Follow my voice.”

  “Jayna.”

  Aimery raised his head and let out a bellow of rage. He took Gabriel’s hand and felt the life draining from his friend. He should have been there to stop the Shapeshifter instead of watching the Great Evil. He should have been there to save Gabriel.

  “Do not blame yourself.”

  Aimery sighed and raised his face to his king and queen. In Theron’s blue eyes Aimery saw the truth of it, but he had given the Shields his vow of protection, and he hadn’t honored it.

  Gabriel had been the best at healing, never giving up until the person was long past dead. Suddenly Aimery had an idea. He pulled the sword from Gabriel and lifted his body into his arms.

  “Aimery,” Rufina cautioned.

  But he was no longer listening to his lieges. He had a friend to save. He looked Theron in the eye before disappearing.

  “What the hell!” Hugh shouted. “Where has he gone with Gabriel?”

  Theron sighed and turned to the Shields. “Aimery is hoping to save him.”

  Val stepped forward, his face hard and unyielding. “Where did he take him?”

  “To Stone Crest.”

  No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the group rushed to their horses and galloped toward the castle.

  “Aimery is going to need help,” Rufina said as she took Theron’s hand.

  “Aye.” He glanced into the stones and nodded to the Fae soldiers to gather Jayna’s body and follow.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Aimery stared down at Gabriel’s body as he focused all his magic. He felt something beside him and glanced over to see Rufina. She gave a soft smile and moved her eyes across the bed. Aimery followed and found Theron waiting patiently.

  “You used most of your magic on Jayna. You’re going to need us,” Theron said softly.

  Aimery nodded and focused on Gabriel as he felt Rufina and Theron’s magic join his. He had to save Gabriel at all costs.

  * * * *

  Gabriel turned his face away from the bright light and sought the darkness that claimed him. Something soft touched his cheek, and for a moment he allowed himself to believe it was Jayna.

  His sweet Jayna.

  Gone from him forever.

  “Gabriel?”

  His heart plummeted to his feet as he heard Jayna’s voice.

  “Gabriel, please come back to me,” she whispered.

  For a moment Gabriel was afraid to move, afraid to even think that he could open his eyes and find his beloved beside him. But the need to see Jayna outweighed his fear.

  Slowly he opened his eyes and found himself staring at the bed hangings of his chamber. He moved his gaze to the left and found bright light streaming through his window.

  Then, he turned his gaze to the right and saw...Jayna. Tears fell down her cheeks as she gave him a heart-stopping smile.

  “You came back to me,” she cried as she leaned over to place her lips atop his.

  Gabriel didn�
�t care how either of them was alive as he raised his arms and brought her atop him. He placed his hands on either side of her head and gazed into her hazel eyes.

  “I love you. I’ve always loved you, and nothing will ever change that. I cannot take back the betrayal of your family and realm, but I will do whatever you ask in the hope that one day you will trust me again.”

  A soft sob was her only response, and Gabriel panicked, thinking that she could never forgive him.

  “You silly fool,” Jayna said through her tears. “I forgave you the moment I saw you in the bailey. I know what you did was a mistake and not something you knew would happen to my realm.”

  Gabriel let out a pent up breath and crushed her to his chest, and he rained kisses over her face. “Don’t ever leave me again. I cannot survive without you.”

  She pushed up and wiped the tears from her face. “Thanks to Aimery, I’ll be with you for some time.”

  Gabriel felt peace surround him for the first time as he held Jayna in his arms. Finally, he was whole again, and a bright future awaited them.

  “As much as I’d love to stay in your chamber, the others are waiting for you,” Jayna said as she slowly climbed off the bed.

  Gabriel sat up and took a deep breath. The skin was still pink from his many wounds, but nearly all the pain was gone. “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Days,” she said and clasped her hands in front of her.

  There was relief in her eyes, proof that she had sat by his side worrying for some time.

  He pulled on the tunic she handed him, then pushed the covers away from his legs and rose from the bed. He tugged on his trousers and then his boots before he faced her again.

  “I thought you had died.”

  “She nearly did.”

  Gabriel spun around to find Aimery leaning against the stones of the hearth. He smiled at the Fae and gave a nod of thanks. “Why didn’t you tell me you helped her?”

  Aimery pushed away from the stones. “The Great Evil needed to believe she was dead. I didn’t have time to tell you otherwise.”