Iron bars and chains robbed Sarah of the will to reach out and touch her husband as he fell to the ground. The weight of Vect beatings brought him to his knees as the cart carrying his Dove pulled further and further away. Shrill screams echoed through Sarah's distress, but she couldn't find the source. A growing haze of reality and dream overcame Sarah as a voice rang out," Leave him to the scavengers, kill him." Horror filled Sarah's cobalt eyes as soldiers buried their blades through the holes in Krusol's armor. Crimson flooded the road and stained Vect armor as they continued on without remorse. Still the drain of iron continued, sucking Sarah's strength and magic away like a leach on a pulsing vein. Tears spilled from misty hues as Sarah's fight slipped away. Chained hands reached through the bars towards her Lion as he slipped from view and darkness sank in.

"Krusol?"

A red man stood beside a caged dove whose cobalt gaze stared longingly at a ghostly lion. His voice was that of a puppet, distant, disembodied," I know who you are Doman, or should I call you Lady Evergreen." The voice then echoed, as if two people spoke in unison, "Redwood informed us we'd be meeting you." Across from a ghostly white, emerald-eyed lion sat a man bathed in blackness. He was that of a kind, aged man with spectacles that reflected in the light. To this lion, the shadow was a friend, a companion, and a champion of a shared cause. Together they smiled and shared ideals and beliefs to the very heart of their existence.

Beside the lion sat a fair white dove with cobalt eyes. It perched, bathed in a light with no source. With the increase of warmth and happiness, the glow grew, shimmering like a star on a foggy night. Each smile from lion and shadow alike made the dove's heart shaped chest puff and swell with delight.

As the shadow rose, the lion did as well, both seemingly content in the blessing between friends and equals. The shadow smiled, a pair of dazzling fangs glinting at the dove and lion. "I wish you lifelong love and happiness."

"Thank you, Lord Redwood." The dove's voice echoed like a surreal dance and sang out as the glowing bird morphed into Sarah Matthews, bride to be. The hazy figure smiled again, a deceptive hint on his lips," Please Sarah, call me Edwyn." Affection played on the figure's face as Sarah's arm laced with the lions while it twisted into the loving Knight, Sir Krusolis, The Evergreen.

Krusol was in a pool of his own blood, a continuous flow seeping from his armor and spreading around him. Sarah ran, screamed, and reached, yet the faster and harder she tried to get to his side, the further Krusol's body slipped away. In the distance loomed a great snake, hovering like a shadow seeking to swallow all meaning in Sarah's life. "Redwood informed us we'd be meeting you???"."

A Bride smoothed over her home made white gown, while a violet figure fussed and smoothed which parts she could not reach. In the background, the shadowy figure teased her, charmed her, and soothed the worries from her as a brother would a sister. The three laughed, smiled, and embraced the day as a blessing.

"Will you walk me down the aisle, Edwyn?" With the Bride's request, the shadow's chest puffed with pride.

A small arm extended outwards while a larger shadow surged towards the bride. A hissing voice came out, crooning to the Bride," Why Sarah, I'm honored. I'd love to."

Delight bubbled on the glowing bride while a shadowy arm linked with her own. While they glided along the aisle, the shadow started to slither, threatening to coil around Sarah as she blossomed into a dove. At the head of the aisle was none other than the ghostly white lion, staring at the dove with a love and loyalty no words could convey. Sarah's heart throbbed anxiously, eager to take the lion within her wings to embrace her dreams and be his everything.

Yet the closer they approached to the isle, the further the lion was from them. Closer and closer, further and further. As the dove cried out for the lion, Krusol took form, deathly white and powerless as the Dove was pulled away. As wings turned into the reaching arms of Sarah as a cage closed around her like a wolf's teeth. Then the shadowed figure swallowed the key, forked tongue flicking from its lips as man became serpent.

Krusol was in a pool of his own blood, a continuous flow seeping from his armor and spreading around him. Sarah ran, screamed, and reached, yet the faster and harder she tried to get to his side, the further Krusol's body slipped away. In the distance loomed a great snake, hovering like a shadow seeking to swallow all meaning in Sarah's life. "Redwood informed us we'd be meeting you?"?"."

Bound in chains, Sarah watched as time froze on a still, colorless figure, slumbering in bliss. Desperation swelled as a newly married woman saw all hope and future within the man that slept before her. Krusol was at the core of all dreams and desires she envisioned within their life; and as war broke out around the happy couple, those dreams and desires were on the verge of shattering. Fear embraced the light within Sarah and she fled to seek wisdom from a snake bathed in darkness.

"Please, help me, help me, help me, help me?"." Sarah begged, bathed in an unknown glow. The light's intensity spread like a fire, but fed the darkness that expelled from the snake. Like a pig, the snake gorged on the light, swell, and grew, towering over Sarah with newfound strength. No amount of light could diminish the shadow or the darkness that favored the snake.

"Help me". Help me". Help me?" Echoed in the light, to which the darkness obliged with a,"Yeeeessssssss"."

Krusol was in a pool of his own blood, a continuous flow seeping from his armor and spreading around him. Sarah ran, screamed, and reached, yet the faster and harder she tried to get to his side, the further Krusol's body slipped away. In the distance loomed a great snake, hovering like a shadow seeking to swallow all meaning in Sarah's life. "Redwood informed us we'd be meeting you?"?"."

A glowing man stood under a shower of blood as explosions of chaos roared around him. Man and beast clashed with machine and technology in a futile fight upon a crimson battlefield. Death and doom reached for the Thundering Knight as in the distance the glowing white figure strode towards observed the Knight with fear filled cobalt eyes. Man after man fell around the Thundering Knight as a lion's roar echoed out against a flaming rain. In one fell swoop the fire closed around the Knight, forcing the glowing figure to spread its wings and fly.

Where the Knight once resided dwell a wounded lion, thrumming in agony. In a field of blood and shadows, a glowing dove descended upon the lion, wings closing around him like a barrier. Embraced by the light, warmth and love spread through him, healing wounds much deeper than those inflicted by the flame. Love poured from the dove even as shadows surrounded its glow and began to consume its light and its strength.

"Let the barrier drop Sarah, I will be right here with you? always." The lion's arms wrapped around the weakened dove; holding her high to show strength, empowered by their love. The light failed and the shadows sprung to feed upon the pair like locusts to a blade of grass.

The dove was caged, the lion became no more than a ghost, and blood formed a ghastly trail along an unknown path. Looming over the scene was none other than the snake, who only bowed his prideful head when he delivered an Evergreen gift to a ravenous wolf.

Krusol was in a pool of his own blood, a continuous flow seeping from his armor and spreading around him. Sarah ran, screamed, and reached, yet the faster and harder she tried to get to his side, the further Krusol's body slipped away. In the distance loomed a great snake, hovering like a shadow seeking to swallow all meaning in Sarah's life. "Redwood informed us we'd be meeting you???"."

Cobalt eyes opened upon a beaten road filled with soldiers separated from her by an iron cage. Diminished figure rose, hay clinging to strands of golden hair. A veil of sweat shrouded Sarah as her body curled in upon itself, consumed by grief. "Krusol"." echoed in her sobs while she rocked.

Many eyes turned on her, but none showed sympathy. She was alone. A captive to Vect forces and being pulled further from her husband's side. Grief swelled at the reality and truth, Sarah had lost Krusol only weeks after they had wed. She wanted to die.

Turning her gaze to the heavens she wept, offering her tears to Atma while she prayed for a blessing. "Atma please accept him into your grace. Hold him and give him peace. Give him time within your embrace, so that in due time I may join his side and together we can pass the threshold together to the afterlife."

Piece by piece of hay was sorted through aimlessly and tossed aside, falling to the road below like a forgotten treasure. As cobalt eyes decended upon the wolf, she whispered to gently," I'll be there soon, Krusol?"

Vecil'es watched Sarah like an unrelenting hawk after a small mouse. The woman's ability to keep fighting as iron chains drained her of her strength caught his interest. He silently admired her. Once he did, he couldn't return to seeing her as a "Doma", an enemy, yet he still sought to maintain his dignity. Had he met Sarah in another world, another time perhaps, things would have been different. He would have saw her strength and bartered with her father to take her as one of his brides. However, here and now, she was an enemy, a villain responsible for countless Vect deaths. He watched as porous sponges smoothed over Sarah's pale skin to wash away war and death. Fingernails caked in blood were scrubbed, scraped, and painted in a pearly green hue. Irony swept through reality as the grieving widow was donned in silken emerald green Bedleh. She would have made him a lovely bride. As women around her silently gossiped and giggled in his presence, Sarah remained silent, graceful, and defiant. Sarah held a fire in her, a fire many men would spend a lifetime taming. It was a shame Sarah would be wasted in the harems of King Leovold. Stepping back to the entrance Vecil"es spoke, harboring the same cold cruelty he held when Sarah was captured," Make sure she's ready, I will inform King Leovold of her arrival." To this the other woman's head bowed as his gaze crossed over them. Once his eyes fell upon Sarah he met Cobalt stare, he could feel her hatred. Cobalt eyes fixed on the ice blue eyes of the rider. For what seemed like an eternity they stayed there until she heard, 'Kill the Thamasan'. In that moment Sarah's eyes widened and her frame moved before Krusol, the blade in her hand lifting to the spot between her collarbone and shoulder, the sweet spot, the instant suicide. Blue eyes went wide and she shouted." If you kill him, you'll lose your prize! I will make sure of that! If you so much as harm him in any way....ANY way."Both her lips pursed before she growled." Let him live, let him return to his troops, and I'll go peacefully." Gauntlet rose to still his troops. Vecil'es regarded the actions of the Doman woman with unwavering glare then a long exasperated sigh. "First, before I even consider your demand. Tell me why a Doman would sacrifice themself for their lapdog" You use them to fight your wars then don't even give them the recognition for their achievements." Dismounting from his steed presented a less than imposing figure. Vecil'es was barely six foot even in all the bulk of that armor. Measured steps carried him through droves of Vects to stand on even ground. A simple wave of his hand toward Krusolis, who at this point had his arm on Sarah's hip, trying to whisper something along the lines of "What the hell are you doing". "Relieve the Thamasan of his weapon." Hesitant to approach at first one of the men followed the order and eased broadsword from the scabbard. Keeping the blade at her throat, cobalt eyes locked with the icy stare he gave her. Krusol's question was met with a 'shh' while she brought her chin up defiantly and she spoke up to the man. "And who are you to question what I do and don't do' How dare you speak to a Doman like that."When they came to take Krusol's weapon Sarah stepped in their way. She wasn't going to let them take it until she was assured of Krusol's safety. "He WILL stay by my side and unharmed or you will regret it. I'm sure by now you're aware of what I can do." Consequences of his failure to return with the Doman healer far outweighed whatever banter the were exchanging. "Lower your weapon and I will agree not to harm him, but you will be coming with me." Hear those words carefully, Sarah. Disgruntled with negotiating with a suicidal prize Vecil'es made a wave of his hand. Spears clattered as they pierced the dirt around the pair. Krusol knew something was amiss with how quickly the Vector commander relented. Whispering still as he tried to talk Sarah off the ledge. "For once I agree with him. Ease down your sword." He even tried to help by gently sliding his hand up forearm until delicately taking Sarah by her wrist. Sarah was scared, fairly scared. As Krusol's hand slid along to her wrist she was certain he could feel her shaking. With his lead she drew back the sword while she continued to stare down the man. There was a soft breath from her, all the strength nearly leaving her at that moment. She used Krusol's body as a post for her, standing tall while she leaned against him for support. Blue gaze turned towards Krusol and she whispered. "Stay with me....Stay with me." She turned her gaze back to Vecil'es and swallowed. "It seems we have no choice. Guiding her hand down to side until the magical blade shimmered away. Krusol made no attempt to disguise lips touching her cheek as Sarah collapsed against him. "Don't do anything detrimental, Little Dove. He's being civil and understanding." During all of this a horse drawn cart rounded through the gathering until coming to a halt before them. Appearing harmless enough on the tail of the cart was a steel cage. Vecil'es unlocked the sturdy padlock and swung open the door. "You may enter under your own free will, Doman, or by force if we must." Tears stained her cheeks as the same woman stared her in the eyes. With growing frustration, she dabbed at the tears and attempted to redo the eyeliner she had smoothed upon Sarah's face. When tears smeared it again her voice scoffed out, "Will you stop crying. If I get one bit of you out of place he'll kill me." Her voice was tender enough, kind, and warm, but there was an underlying sense of fear and frustration that lingered there. Sarah did what she could to calm the tears. This woman had done nothing against her to receive such treatment for failing her duties. As the woman dabbed those tears aside and renewed her efforts in making Sarah perfect for presentation. Soft croons of comfort came from the woman as she leaned back, a gentle smile on her lips," There now, you look like quite the bride. He's not bad, you'll love your husband, he'll treat you well." A trigger, a switch, it's as though a light. The strength that came with rage and hate was remarkable in such a small package as Sarah. Hands reached out like meat hooks for the woman's throat. Closing over her jugular Sarah screamed as cobalt gaze flashed a blazing red,"HUSBAND! HUSBAND!" My husband lays dead on the roads to this cursed place! How dare you!"!" Violent screams filtered from Sarah as rage grew with the closing squeeze of Sarah's hands on the woman's neck. No amount of terror could slacken the window's hands and it looked as though another life would be lost because of war and chaos. It took a stronger source of Sarah's hate to call her off her prey. His voice burned in her ears, "Guards!" Of course he wouldn't put his hands on her while she lacked proper restraint. Guards pulled her from the woman's throat. Hardened gaze closed as guards fought Sarah's furious pull. With their commander as her target, they had to show vigilance with their attempts at keeping Sarah's talons from reach. Once Vecil"es loomed over her, a hard stare was shared between them as he brought an iron chained choker about her throat. "Do yourself a favor, control that temper. You'll live a lot longer." "I'm sure to die soon, but you're going to go with me." Sarah's voice didn't tremble, in fact it sounded foreign to even her. As Sarah fought to lunge towards him, his hand reached out and took her by the hair. A sharp pull had her buckling to her knees. Hands moved to claw at his when he started to drag her from the room. Nails bit into flesh, but Vecil"es face remained resolute. Pulling her into the throne room, he tossed her forwards as she screamed and kicked," Murderer! You killed him! You killed him!" He stared down at her, cold as stone while fresh sobs soiled all the work the woman had done to make her perfect. "You're blaming me for something I did not do. I saw him alive when we left him." Now he merely mocked her, a soft disdain for her grief. Any woman in Vect would have died before showing the enemy their tears. His hand motioned out for a blade," Allow me to teach you some manners." Once the blade was placed in his hand he tossed it to land beside her feet. He was well prepared for the blind rage the woman bore for him, and was ready to counter every strike. In one fell swoop, the world around Sarah darkened. Furious rage formed on her face, uglying it as she surged towards him brandishing the sword poorly. She was no master of the art, Krusol was. Everything around her echoed as she roared for the sake of her lion. Now was the time in her mind, now was the time when she would try and die. Soon she would be in the arms of her Lion. "I'm coming Krusol." Two hands stood joined through the passage of time. Wrapped about them was their eternal bond and a shared promise. Not a single strand of that bond was shattered, torn, or cut; with each squeeze of the hands the bond only strengthened. Together they endured countless trials and heartache. "Sarah, on this day our two lives become one. The love we have dreamed of and prayed for is ours forever. Your sweet love blesses me beyond measure. I entrust to you my heart. I promise to forever love and care for your heart, never to break it, never seeking to hurt it, for it is precious to me. Today I give you my life, I want nothing more than to journey down this road together. Following whatever path it might lead us on, to be there always for you and with you." "I'm coming Krusol." "Krusolis, The Evergreen, my Knight, my Lion. From the moment I looked into your eyes I knew that I would give my heart to you. With each loving day and each warm night, you have been by my side since the beginning of our courtship. I will always be grateful for your love, respect, and honor, for without them, you would not be such a remarkable man. You showed me love and sweet kindness that I could never expect. I will always cherish you. From here till my dying day, it is you who I will live, love, and die for. I only hope to give you piece like you've given to me." "I'm coming Krusol." Reality came swimming back to Sarah at the tip of a blade. She had missed him, again, each time she lunged at him, she missed. All Vecil"es would do was smile, mock her with that smile, and that only pushed her to try and try again. "Stop this nonsense at once! Stand down Meyfor!" At that moment Vecil"es" back turned to Sarah, leaving him exposed. However, Sarah's grip upon the blade waned and it clattered to her feet before she succumbed to iron's drain. As Sarah's sobs resumed, muffled words were exchanged before an elderly king stood before Sarah with the aid of two of his concubines. One rubbed at the blue that formed at her neck. "Miss Evergreen, if you'll come with me, please."

**Link Within** It was my own choice It was my own desire And follow my husband Loyally into the fire.

"Do you know what Alchemy is Miss Evergreen?" King Leovold, beloved among many Vect soldiers found no favor deep within Sarah's shocking blue eyes. It was a shame to the king, her exotic appearance and talents could have proven useful if she had chose to be loyal to him, like she was her late husband. With a lift of a quivering hand, Leovold summoned his scientists from a veiled room deep within the throne room.

Their clambered approach was complete with a a portable cart on rattling wheels. Upon its surface was a menagerie of tools, including those for one purpose and one purpose alone, blood letting. As they lifted their tools for inspection, Sarah stared from her helpless position. Gripped in the arms of soldiers, all she could do was watch as these scientists poorly groomed their primitive tools. There was little strength left, save that she harbored for her continuing defiance.

Knowing that Sarah would not yield in her determination Leovold waved his hand as he spoke to Sarah," They are adept, my scientists, and like all my subjects, they serve to give me what I desire. If you will not help me, surely your blood will." A bit of fight was expected then, but when Sarah let out silent, weak bouts of laughter he glared towards his scientist,"GET ON WITH IT!"

The scientist did not stop in time for his King to reconsider, he knew it was futile. Puncturing the soft inner flesh of Sarah's elbow poorly with a needle, he nodded to his assistant to set a collection bowl beneath her punctured arm. Blood seeped around the needle and into the bowl slowly, too slowly. Yet, the King understood, he was a patient man when it meant getting what he desired. Among Sarah's powers and skill, he desired her, she would be his concubine and source of eternal youth. "Codial suan, mo chaora bhan, codial samh, a mhurinin mhilis..." Within moments of Sarah's bloodletting Vecil"es came through the great double doors, crimson rage overtaking his face. "Take this woman to her cage and make sure NO ONE removes her from it! Now!" A rush of guards moved, flooding into the throne room as the man turned to them," Protect the king with your lives or I will kill you myself."

In this rush of chaos the scientists knew failure would result in their heads. As the guards held her still for them one moved in with a thin knife and sliced against the needle. A flood of blood poured from her arm and dribbled down into the collection tray below. Once enough blood was in the Alchemist's care, the guards were free to take her from the throne room, no thought or care considered for her seeping arm.

Outside the walls of the throne room the halls trembled with the sounds of terror and battle. Bodies laid strewn on side halls and against doorways. Everywhere, Vect soldiers pushed through halls towards an unknown foe. Wails of pain and agony met Sarah's ear like a sharp throb at the skull. The pain in her arm was nothing compared to the death soaking in the air.

"Luigh go ciuin sa chliabhan,dun do shuil, a leanbh dhilis."

They came from the shadows, like malicious ghosts. Their feet were soft and true as they sped down the hall as though their frames never touched the ground. Bows were plucked like harps as the arrow's song glided through the air and into the guards" brows. Then they passed, unaffected by the stumble of the concubine in emerald green.

Sarah slid, her body overwhelmed by the deathly connection of her captors. Both hands shot to her head, cradling it like a fragile egg. Eyes of blue dulled as they turned up as though watching the very souls of those men drift away from their corpses. All at once everything went black like the shadows invading Leovold's domain. Slipping to the floor, Sarah's frame went limp against the dust and stone of a crumbling hallway.

"Realta geala anocht ag luascadh ins an speir, Fuaim na coille agus ceol na hoiche; fag uait an olagon, nil ga ar bith leis."

"Where am I" What's going on' Where's Krusol?" The Dovecould feel herself being swayed in a motherly embrace. A gentle song crooned down to her as blue eyes opened to witness the beauty and grace of Atma, Krusol's goddess.

"Shhh....He has gone my child and so shall you, in due time." She smiled comfortingly to The Dove within her arms. Fingers of the goddess drifted through the snow white feathers upon the bird's back to the wounded wing at her side.

Little sobs shivered from The Dove's breast as her face curled under a wing. "Krusol, my sweet Lion. I'm sorry I did not come quickly enough." Yet even her sobs were soothed with the tender song of the goddess. It echoed around her like a warm blanket.

"Codial suan, mo chaora bhan, codial samh, a mhurinin mhilis..."

The goddess smiled again, knowingly down at The Dove as peace flowed to her. "It's not time for you to grieve my child. You have to break free of the wolf and contend with the snake." She crooned to The Dove, once more fingers smoothed over the wounded wing. "You must harbor my love, harbor it for my people. They will need you."

"How can I do that' What of Krusol?" Blue eyes turned up to Atma, once again she was smiled to. One of Atma's fingers rose, giving a soft poke to The Dove's beak.

Her voice rang out and her song faded away, "Wake."

Blue eyes lifted to find Sarah's body had moved from its previous position wounded arm limp at her side. Blindly, Sarah clutched a Vect sword, which had become a makeshift crutch in her venture down the hall. She was moving back to the throne room, back to Vecil"es to finish unfinished business. An eye for an eye. Yet with one more step, her figure sank, crumbling against a lifeless frame upon the floor. Her crutch's hilt was brought to rest against her while she wept.

"I'm sorry Krusol." He was really gone...

While sobs threatened a figure paused before her, feet wrapped in cloth. For a moment Sarah paid no mind to the figure, but he did not pass her by as the shadows had done before. Sarah's eyes fixed on those legs, fingers strained to cling to the blade. Yet, as the figure kneeled before her, she had no more strength to resist what she assumed was coming.

The sound of fabric ripped from the lifeless frame beside her before a makeshift bandage was wrapped around the cut upon her arm. When her eyes fell upon the face of the figure helping her she pause. She could have sworn Atma was staring and smiling to her from the kindly face of the unknown man.

He rose the moment their gaze met and extended his hand. His hand twitched in a soft motion, urging her to stand.

"Up!?

I saw my future in a sea of Evergreen For it I would give my all I would even surrender my everything For he, my lion, was my one true dream.