Two Fates: Divine Storm and War Maiden

In a lone battlefield that was filled with corpses and blades. Stood two individuals, a silver haired man who wielded a katana and the black haired woman who wielded a pair of sabers. “So I suppose this is it, Elena Strongbow.” The man said to her with a bow. “Yes, Crow Blackwind. This may be the end for us.” The woman replied, longing eyes towards one another yet their faces called for war. “I hold the fate of my empire!” Elena raised her voice as she readied herself. “I hold the fate of my liege!” Crow shouted back. Charging straight at each other like knights in a jousting match. Their blades clashed as Elena and Crow faced each other with their weapons bridging their distance. Crow redirected her blades with a fast parry, pushing her blades off course. Punching Elena in the face. She retaliated with a kick to his stomach which pushed Crow back. Roughly 10 steps from her, Elena was able to recover her stance as she watched Crow sheathed the blade.   “Damn it all!” Crow shouted as he vanished from her senses. Elena dashed to the right, barely dodging a s***h from Crow. The rubble behind her was now dust that was carried away by the wind. Elena sheathed both of her sabers, taking a deep breath. Her eyes glued to Crow’s feet, assessing if he was going to vanish from her senses again or if he was going to strike ahead. A moment of stillness, both of them did not make a move. Adrenaline pumped in their veins. Crow took the initiative, running straight at Elena. Not drawing the blade until he got close enough, a downward swing where Elena countered by stepping to the side at the last second .Slashing Crow’s back, where he bled but he slammed his scabbard which struck Elena’s jaw.  Crow was bleeding a little but that did not matter. Elena spat out her chipped tooth. The glare of the two humans in this barren area. “Divine Storm of Darkness. Is there no way for me to convince you to step away from this?” Elena asked, spitting out some of the blood from her mouth. “I’m afraid not. War Maiden. I have made a blood oath to my liege. Though he has gone mad and became a tyrant. I must abide by his will.” Crow said where Elena let out a sigh. Charging straight at him, it sent Crow flying back quite a distance. Elena readied her blades, only to see Crow in front of her again. She had strength but Crow had speed. Crow’s sword swings were nothing to scoff at, Elena was slowly being put on the defensive thanks to the lightning speed of Crow’s swordsmanship. Their blades withstood the momentum of each other’s blows, with each attack sending the shock to their bones. Crow pulled out his scabbard with his left hand, a piercing strike to Elena’s chest that pushed her back. A brief gap in her defense, Crow went for the neck. He merely grazed it as Elena managed to block it. Albeit barely, it was enough for Crow to cease his attack.   Elena started feeling the burns from the cuts of her body being exposed to the wind. Her armor was badly damaged, and Crow managed to cut through the material. It was worthless and was slowing her down. The armor faded away from Elena as she wore her battle dress uniform, with the shoulder capes. “Ditching your armor is a bad idea.” “Not if your blade broke through my protective spells.” Elena growled.  Crow and Elena charged at each other once more, their blades fell out of their hands. Now using their scabbards instead, striking at their joints and limbs. Crow was bleeding by the nose and lips, but that did not stop him from punching Elena’s stomach. Where she coughed out some blood over his arm. Elena headbutted Crow, which pushed Crow back.   Their scabbards broke but their will to fight has not. Crow punched Elena’s ribs, his knuckles were getting bruised. Elena raised her knee, striking Crow’s stomach. Then punching his chest repeatedly. He locked his left arm with hers, then snapping it. Hurting both of them, but hearing Elena’s scream and when she blinked due to the pain. That gave Crow a shot at her neck, tearing the sleeve of his coat. Crow wrapped Elena’s neck with his right arm. Kicking her legs to cause her to fall, Crow was trying to break her neck. Elena used whatever strength she had in her left arm to stop it. Elena kept striking Crow’s knees but he showed no signs of giving up. Elena was slowly losing her consciousness, Crow is now trying to strangle her instead of breaking her neck. Elena tapped her stomach, looking for something. A grip, she was looking for a grip. Pulling out whatever the grip was, the feeling of something by the thumb and its weight. It was enough for her to know it was her revolver. She pointed it at Crow’s leg. Then firing a shot. Crow let go, groaning in pain as he was shot by the leg, Elena quickly took aim at Crow’s other leg. Another shot that forced Crow to fall on his knees. Elena regained her composure, and she got back up on her feet. Right hand shaking as she pointed the revolver at Crow. Limping closer to Crow until she had the revolver pointed right at his temple. Crow’s handsome face was a mess as he smirked at her. “Why do you look, so sad… Oh War Maiden? I have fallen. You mustn’t hesitate now.” Crow spoke, his hoarse voice was weak. The earlier confidence he had was gone. Crow moved his right arm to grab something out of his pocket. It was a bloodied handkerchief. Elena’s face was not wrinkled with sadness, but her eyes? Her eyes gave it all away, that regretful gaze at Crow’s current state. “Damn it, Crow! Why did you do the blood oath!? You could have been fighting with me not against me!” Elena’s voice gave into the anger she felt, her eyes tearing up and her face squirmed with that anguish.  Crow wiped her tears, a smile on his face. Then he stood up, despite his body forcing him not to do it. He was losing blood, but if he was going to die. He’s going to die standing but not before he does this. Crow leaned his forehead with Elena’s. “I know. I know, Elena Strongbow but my duty as a Blackwind is to my liege. Even if he became a monster.” Elena’s revolver was pointed at Crow’s chest. “For the many moons that have passed, for the many dawns that awakened. Twilight  that we could never see. Separation comes from death. For if one of us leaves. We pray to find the other.” Crow spoke as he closed his eyes. “For every rose shed in your name, is a disdain to mine.” Elena continued. “For every tear you shed for me, is an insult to me.” Crow spoke. “For when one is separated.” Crow said as his right hand held her cheeks. “The other must find it.” Elena followed as she forced herself through the tears. “For when one is taken away by death.” Crow continued. “The other must live on.” Elena said, as she holstered the revolver and her right hand held his cheek. “For true love is always eternal, and it can never be taken away. Let the Gods be our witness to this declaration.” Elena and Crow voices were one, they both leaned closer and clasped their hands. This would seal the pact, a pact that was said to have just been a myth yet for some reason. They spoke it out loud. Crow let go as he fell down, he’s lost his strength but he smiled for Elena. “Maybe not in this life, Elena. I hope you will always be my Swan.” “Maybe in another life, I will call you my dance partner.” Elena said as she squeezed the trigger. “Maybe one day, we can call each other beloved.” Elena and Crow chorused. Elena fired a shot through Crow’s head.   “Lady Strongbow!” She turned to see her warriors rushing over to her. “Is that… The Divine Storm?” A warrior asked. “Yes… I have bested him in battle, but I’m far too weak.” Elena said as she fell to her knees. “Then please go to a healer!” “No, it’s too late. My wounds are far too deep.” “But Milady, what shall we do?” The warriors gathered by Elena’s side, but she put her revolver down on Crow’s chest, then sat beside his corpse.   “Fulfill your duty. The Lord of Triviana is before you! I can no longer go on. I will hinder you, so fight on. Show the world why you are War Hounds of the Alistair Empire! Bring the Lord to justice, and free us from this war!”  “We… We understand Milady.” The leading warrior said as she took off her helmet.  “Valin. Take this key. Inside is my will, my letters to my younger sister and my parents.” Valin shook her head, looking at the key pendant that Elena had on her neck.  “Milady, I can’t take this. We can get you to safety.” Elena snapped her fingers and pointed to the distance. The other warriors marched onward, while Valin stayed behind. “Please, Valin. Do this for me. You are my best friend and the only one I can trust. I can’t leave him. You know why.” Valin looked at Crow’s corpse, the gunshot to the head, and the closed eyes. Elena placed Crow’s hands to his chest where the revolver was left. “I understand, Elena. Please… Rest easy.” Valin put on her helmet, taking the key. Valin joined her troops, while Elena was left behind. She was losing her strength, leaning over Crow’s shoulder. “Sorry but I guess I’ll have to join you. I hope you won’t think too badly of me.” Elena said as she fell asleep by Crow’s side. What came after that? Was the ceasefire between Triviana Kingdom and Alistair Empire. Where the younger brother of the King of Triviana signed the agreement to pay reparations and to be wed into the Alistair Empress. The Alistair Empress who grieved at the loss of her elder sister, Elena Strongbow while the Young King of Triviana grieved for the loss of a close aide named Crow Blackwind. Though what was reported to the two countries, were the pictures of Crow and Elena who held hands in their dying breath. Where it brought controversy by the ones who were filled with hatred.  Claiming that such photos were mere fabrications, that Elena Strongbow and Crow Blackwind had been enemies ever since the war began. They have been enemies for 13 years, from when they first crossed blades for their countries at the tender age of 15. Yet, there was something else.  A recording from a distance, where they heard the Lover’s Pact. Crow and Elena’s declaration was heard clearly as Elena fired the shot that killed Crow. That recording alone, quelled the tensions of war as the young king of Triviana and the current Empress of Alistair raised the question. “Why must they be forced to wage war for the sakes of their countries? When they could have been lovers or lived as normal children? Why must the two who had loved each other so much, befell a cruel fate?” The questions raised became food for thought for the masses, and then they heard the letters of both Crow Blackwind and Elena Storngbow’s will. Love letters that they had exchanged to each other. These became public for all to see, as historians and military officials deemed the letter to be a beautiful story. For it would tell a tale of how two warriors. Whom were revered as legends and stories of myth had fallen in love. How they remained true to their country, despite the conflicts. It would be known as the romantic tale of the century. A story so beautiful that even the world would know, where screenwriters and novelists would tell their tale in their own language. Fictional heroes stemmed from their beginnings and creation.   Two statues were erected at the battlefield where the pair had fallen. One that depicted Crow wearing his tailcoat with the light armor and Elena in her full heavy armor. A painting was to be placed at the Alistair Empire’s castle and another painting to be commissioned for the public. The one at the castle, shall have a very, personal attribute towards it. To be painted by the nephew and niece of Elena Strongbow and Crow Blackwind’s youngest sibling. One that depicted the beauty and beast of the two, the beautiful Crow and Elena. The beast like Divine Storm of Darkness and War Maiden. The piece that is to be made for the public, had shown Crow and Elena in what is deemed to be their wedding outfit with Crow wearing the black of Triviana and Elena in the burgundy dress of Alistair. Both of them wielded their weapons, having roses by their lips. Now, would their story end here? Will the tales of their love for the world to be inspired by or such tales are nothing but a falsehood to try and bring hope to war torn nations that love may bloom on the battlefield?    “Oh… This cannot do.” A voice spoke, two balls of light were brought in front of a being that stared into them. A woman who looked at them with sad eyes.  “How cruel must fate be. How cruel must destiny be, for the two of you to fight each other on the battlefield, yet you fall for each other? Your eyes speak of hate yet your heart knows that it is a lie. Denying yourselves to the feeling that you harbour deep within the root of your souls… Well… You made a Lover’s Pact. I cannot give you the same life as you had before, but what I can do… Is give you both life that is years after your battle. Which shall be recorded into your world’s history as a legendary duel. The Lover’s Pact will not betray you, when you find each other in the next life. You will remember each other by your old names. Crow Blackwind and Elena Strongbow. The love you have for one another can never run astray. The world may throw everything at your way, but as long as you have each other. Then your love will reign true. Live your lives… The future, though it may be peaceful… You must face different conflicts and struggles. I wish I could give you an easier life, but… The Gods could not give you both that opportunity… So you shall trade your lives for the two who are about to be reaped away. I, Juliet. Shall guarantee that your love is sealed. With the other Gods as my witness. I bestow upon you two, the Lover's Pact. Where you will always remember your past and one another.” The voice spoke as she looked at the two balls of light.   “You must be feeling confused, you are a soul that will be traveling into another. That is one of our ways of making this work without the whole, live your life like an infant. You will be perhaps at the age of 15? Attending an academy together. Your knowledge will be like before, and considering how you both have mastered a lot of swordsmanship and magic. Though this will be 40 years after your fight. So many things have changed, including weapons of war and various other details. So do have fun. Your magic powers and strength will be to back when you were 15. Your memories, your thoughts and your past shall merge with the people you’re replacing. You will definitely remember each other by your blades. After all, that is how you both fell in love. Now wasn’t it? Your strength when you were 15, you are definitely most stronger than most people… After all, that was the first time you’ve killed people.” Juliet chuckled, humming happily as she shaped the memories for these two spheres of light. “The world has changed. Be it good or bad, it does not matter. What matters now, is for you to understand that there is much more to life than the art of swordsmanship. We, the Gods and Goddesses would like to apologize. For we are unable to grant you both proper rest, but we do hope you enjoy the new lives you have. You may live your life as you wish. Though the world may seem to be at peace, there are many things that lie beneath the surface. Do thread lightly, if you choose strife or to be vigilant from such acts of violence.”