Dearest Bella

Battles are ugly affairs

Chapter 8 

Battles are ugly affairs

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Bella found she had her strength back plus her growing were wolf strength. Her attitude was fresh and her mind was ready for exploring. Damian must have sensed her need for adventure when he knocked on her door with two packed lunches and following behind Hannah had the breakfast tray. Toast with jam and coffee. Bella looked at Damian curiously; she loved this breakfast, but how did he know that? Shrugging it off she tucked in and they were ready to leave in no time. 

The first place they went was the fellowship hall; a giant room filled with the many gods. The cool part was their were different rooms that branched off to the side for the different gods. It was opened 24/7 and all was welcomed. There was even a mediation space for those that found inner peace not through deities but through self reflection and self love.

The next spot was the markets, everyone was free to roam and do what they pleased it looked like earth, some as humans form and others in wolf. The space between tents/stalls was quiet open and everyone was friendly. They gave the two newcomers a wide birth and Bella realised it was because of Damian. Everyone bowed slightly or cast their eye to the ground as they approached them. Those brave enough to look directly at Bella saw her beauty and would gasp. 

Bella felt slightly foolish with the attention and asked to leave to the next spot. 

“Don’t worry you’ll get used to them, their just in awe of your beauty.” Damian took Bella’s hand and she blushed; as he lead them to the woods. 

“This is the woods see how the guards posts are close enough to see, each have ten men on duty at all times. There is two runners that get to the danger first, two scouts that report to me personally of any important reports. Then six warriors who will fight for their land and people.”

“There are over …” A rush of noise filled Damian’s head. “Help.. Where did they come from?” Many voice called out as the sound of weapons clashing rang through the mind link. 

 “Bella we have to go back I have an emergency council meeting.”  Damian quickly transported them both into the safety of his mansion which in the daylight looks more like a palace. 

Once in her quarters he head straight to the battle field to find his men fighting rigorously against trolls; a normally reluctant enemy. They wouldn’t come out to fight unless something or someone had tempted them with promise of wealth. The armour they wore reminded him of something.. white and gold. Damian unsheathed his twin blades and raced down the hill; taking out the trolls in his stride. Like a furious hurricane the men stood no chance. Screams of the injured were silenced by the steel blades; their blood spilt. Damian had fought his way to the centre of the battle where he found Amos the leader. Cling their swords clashed the shockwave sending those nearby back. Amos half kneeling under the pressure; while Damian stood terrible and determined to end this here and now. 

Amos buckled under, he hand slipping dangerously close to the blades edge. In on fluid motion hand hand was no longer attached to his body. With a sharp cry her fell backward into the muddied ground. Held frozen by the sword pushing into his chest. 

“Who the f**k sent you?” Damian spat, blood spattered his face. 

“Elenor promised m… me control of the rouge armies if I… I dis.… stracted you.” 

Realisation dawned on Damian, he swiftly ended the trolls life; by running him through. He spun around mink linking with his men; “Had anyone seen Elenor or Bella?”

The men answered; “No!” All except one scout who was out of breath fighting for survival. “She took her.., Into the wood.” The connection was immediately cut off as a scream erupted around the field from the young scout. The men felt his pain through the mind link and begun to fight harder and fiercer until a few surrounded the fallen boy. Two giant men picked up the boy and carried him back into the kingdoms walls; as the others attacked the on coming trolls. 

Damian raced towards the woods meeting up with Carter who was tearing through the trolls as if they were mere paper dolls. As they neared the edge; Carter raced ahead to ensure there were no traps or ambush Damian would fall into. He knew the blind rage of love when he saw it. The kind that didn’t see or care about the dangers. He would fight til his last breath for her and only her. Carter knew this foolishness but he was yet to feel it himself. 

Carter tore through the trees as the dull light gave way to many silent shadows none proving to be known enemies. He felt a presence close by and unsheathed his smaller dagger. Holding both weapons he decided to climb the nearest tree. Quietly he balanced from branch to branch. He soon found the small group and jumped into the middle of the clearing; surprising the small ring of trolls.

“Sorry to drop in like this; but you all looked like you needed some music to the party.” Carter smugly announced; switching on his phone to play ‘river’ just before charging at the group of trolls. Deflecting blow after blow with his larger blade it gave him plenty of time to drive home the blade of the dagger; causing the majority to fall back and nurse their wounds. 

Damian’s voice carried close by; “Carter I can hear your music from the battle. How many are left?”

Carter counted three and reported back just as Damian came into the clearing. Slicing through the closest troll lurking in the boundary of the small clearing. The blood bath had concluded as Carter pulled his long blade from his latest victim’s neck. Both men looked at each other; the same look that had pasted over the years; respect. It had been built since they first began training at four years old and Carter never failed or faltered; trust and honesty had been the pillar for their kinship. Without another word they chased the trail to get Bella back. 

∆/˚∆/†∆/˚∆

Bella tasted the blood in her mouth as the next blow landed on her face with a stomach churning crunch. The troll stood back to see his handy work. Her nose was definitely broken, her eyes will be black and her teeth it was a miracle they were even still intact. Her arms were bound by a strange black substance; it was cold, hard and slippery. She was put on a chair that had nails on the legs so if she tried to rest her own legs she would pierce her skin. 

Another figure was seated behind the troll she guessed it was her executioner. A lady poised in deadly grace; her whole being project cold, heartless, anger. Her mere presence made one feel entirely empty and afraid. The beating was over for now. The figure stood elegantly out of her small throne and pranced over to her. Slowly she removed her white gloves with tiny gold leaves. “Why are you so special? He chose a mere human?” Elenor scoffed at the worthless creature.

Bella looked up through the blood and burning sensation she simply replied; “Neither do I.”

Elenor sighed; “No s**t darling, I’m going to have to get rid of you, once and for all. Then he will have no choice but to unite the two most powerful families and marry me. No offence darling; you understand its just business and you are the only thing getting in my way.” Elenor finished her flourishing statement by slapping the gloves right across Bella’s face. 

The hit did hurt it was the poisonous words that stung. Thats when Bella noticed her gloves were lined in silver; Elenor was going to choke Bella to death.  Elenor deliberately pulled off her gloves; finger by finger. As she took her time she was delighted by the look of horror on Bella’s face. 

“You’re not a..a were wolf?” Bella choked out.

“No darling I’m Elenor Naoc or formally the White Lilly.” 

Bella frowned she felt she knew her or ought to have met her. Then the windows exploded and shattered glass rained down. Elenor lost her composure and called her guards to kill Bella and the intruders. Bella was surrounded yet again by these giant creatures. She didn’t stand a chance in hell of getting out of this mess. When a laugh erupted from a high window and two figures fast as lighting pounced down. They were too fast and smart against the trolls. It was a matter of seconds before only the three of them were alive. The bloodshed was disturbing to her untrained stomach and Bella felt herself become sick. 

Damian bolted over to her pulling her her back from her face. “Bella, I’m so sorry… I couldn’t get to you in time. Please forgive me.” Damian pleaded.

Bella looked up at the man covered in blood, with his pleading green eyes. “Damian, it’s not your fault; anyway I’m alive aren’t I?”

Damian cut the cord holding her down and carried her bridal style out of the building. Carter set the building on fire as they left. Damian looked over his shoulder. Carter shrugged his shoulders; “What its the fastest way to get rid of the bodies and warn others not to f**k with you.”

Damian shook his head; “It’s just sloppy work.” Together they made it safely back to the kingdom. Bella received a healing bath. While Damian and Carter called for a council meeting to catch the kingdoms’ leaders up on their current situation and help prepare the kingdom for the looming war.