Showdown

By Bekka Mouri

Tim’s lips still tingled from Bekka’s kiss as he walked down the path that led away from the castle. He was going to face the Daedra in the woods that would put him a good distance away from everyone. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt, especially any of the harem ladies or Bekka. His steps were heavy but his soul was light from the euphoria that spread through his body when the woman’s soft lips touched his and it had not faded away in spite of the task that lay before him.

When he got far enough from the palace, he unrolled the first scroll Enova had given him. He took a deep breath and read the words from the page. As he neared the bottom, the paper caught fire in the middle. He dropped it and jumped back, his eyes wide in surprise.

“ You fool. How dare you summon me, “ A sinister voice echoed through the trees. Tim looked around but could not see anyone.

“ Show yourself, Hermaeus! I have something I want to know! “

As soon as the word left Tim's lips, a giant man-like being with blood red eyes appeared before him. He was dressed in green body armor and his long cinnabar hair blew in the breeze. There were writhing snakes intermingled in between the flowing locks, all of them staring at Tim. He stood his ground; he wouldn’t let this eight-foot tall abomination scare him.

Hermaeus chuckled, “ So, I was summoned by just a mere boy. I will take much pleasure in killing you. “

“ I will kill you first, “ Tim said through clinched teeth, unrolling the other scroll.

Hermaeus waved his hand, making that scroll catch fire like the first. “ Not without that. Tell me, boy. What is your quarrel with me? “

Tim felt his whole body go cold. He knew he was going to die without the banishing spell Enova had given him. However, he would not die being a coward. He would fight the demon with every last bit of his being for the woman who meant so much to him.

“ Aren’t you going to answer me or are you too frightened? “ Hermaeus taunted.

“ I am not scared of you and you know what my quarrel is with you, Mora. You hurt one of my friends and I am not going to stand for it. “

“ You are going to give up your life for Bekka? Oh how gallant. She doesn’t even remember you so what good is it for you to die for her? “

“ I don’t care if she doesn’t remember me. She is still my friend and you hurt her! “ Tim snarled. “ If I die, I will die fighting for her! “

Hermaeus slapped Tim across the face with one of his huge hands, sending the young man to the ground. He laughed as Tim wiped a trickle of blood away from his mouth, his eyes glowing bright aqua. “ Where is all the action to back up your talk, boy? “

Tim raised his hand screamed, “ PARALYSE! “ A blue bolt of energy shot from his hand, paralyzing Hermaeus the second it hit him. “ Right here! “ Tim jumped to his feet, kicking the Daedra in the chin.

Hermaeus spit out a mouthful of blood and snarled, “ FREE ACTION! “

“ FIRE BOLT SPELL DRAIN! “ Tim aimed his hand towards Hermaeus.

“ FIREBALL! “ Hermaeus’ attack cancelled Tim’s out. He prepared for another attack, grinning.

“ SPELL BLOCKING FIELD! “ Tim shouted, a force field surrounding him. He smirked, “ Get past that, Mora! “

“ DISPELL MAGIC! “ Hermaeus shot a bolt of black energy out and laughed as the force field disintegrated.

Tim clenched his fists, “ Oh yeah! DISPELL MAGIC! “ He shot a bolt of blue energy at Hermaeus, disabling his power to cast spells as well.

“ So, you want to fight hand to hand, eh? “ Hermaeus stepped back, preparing to attack. Tim stood still as he lunged for him, jumping out of the way at the last moment.

Hermaeus turned, “ You are only delaying the inevitable. “

“ You’re just jealous because I can jump that high, “ Tim smirked before delivering a roundhouse kick that caught Hermaeus off of his guard.

“ I’ll make you pay for that one, boy! “ Hermaeus kicked Tim in the chest, sending him flying backward until a tree stopped him. He felt all of his ribs pop as he struck it and slid down. Hermaeus approached and laughed, “ Are you ready to die boy? “

Tim closed his eyes and summoned up the staff Enova had given him. He had discovered he could make it hide and call it back when he needed to use it. “ Not today, Hermy, “ He gasped out through the pain coming from his back.

Hermaeus’ eyes grew wide, obviously surprised. “ How did you get that? “

“ A friend gave it to me. Does this scare you? “

“ Heh. I am sure you don’t even know how to use it, “ Hermaeus was doing a bad job of hiding his anxiety over the appearance of the staff. He knew that it alone could kill him. When he killed the bounty hunter who owned it, he thought it would never be able to come back again.

“ You are a horrible liar, Hermaeus. This staff DOES scare you, doesn’t it? “

“ If it did, I wouldn’t tell you. “

Tim raised the staff up and shoved it into the ground the best he could. He began mumbling something under his breath while he gripped it tightly. He did not recognize the words for they seemed to be flowing from the staff into his soul. Hermaeus blanched as he realized Tim was reciting the banishing spell he had burned.

“ I will not allow this! “ Hermaeus summoned up his blood red claymore and prepared to swing it.

Tim continued to recite the spell, unable to remove his hands from the staff. He watched as Hermaeus drew the sword back and prepared to swing it, aiming right for Tim’s head. The words came faster as time seemed to slow. He shut his eyes as Hermaeus swung the sword.

**

Aly paced her room, not knowing where her brother had gone. He had gotten up early that morning, saying he had to do something. She was getting worried and could feel something was wrong. He had a dream the night before and she wondered about it.

She did not quite understand what was going on in it. All she saw was a young man giving her brother two scrolls and a staff. “ I hope he’s not getting himself in trouble, “ She muttered to herself, walking out the door. She had to find him and find him fast.

As she walked out into the courtyard, she fell to the ground as pain burned up the side of her face. She could taste blood in her mouth as she pushed herself up. ~Oh no! Tim’s in danger!~ She swayed slightly as she got to her feet and ran out the gates, stumbling a little as she did. Her feet carried her to a thicket of trees where she saw Tim fighting a very tall man with long cinnabar hair.

~Are those… SNAKES?~ Her eyes grew wide, watching the snakes writhe wildly. ~Who IS that?~

She watched in horror as the man kicked Tim in the chest, his pain blasting through her body. She was assaulted from the other side as Tim slammed into a tree and slid down to its base. She fell to the ground, stars flashing before her eyes. She blinked a few times to clear her vision and looked towards her brother.

Tim called up the staff from the dream and looked like he was saying a spell. Aly gasped as the man produced a red claymore form thin air and headed right for Tim with it. She raised her hand and shouted, “ PARALYZE! “ as the man’s blade sliced Tim’s cheek.

“ What in Oblivion? “ The sword fell from his hands to the ground as he found himself unable to move.

“ Oh damn it, “ Aly muttered, crawling behind a tree as a bright light formed at the quartz topped head of the staff Tim clutched onto. She plugged her ears, waiting for a loud explosion but it never came. When the man did explode, it was silent but powerful. Several branches fell from the tree Aly lay under as the ground quaked beneath her feet.

She covered her eyes as the explosion ended with the man disappearing in a flash of bright light. When things had calmed down, Aly pulled herself around to the side of the tree. All that was left was a crater, Tim clutching the staff and he was bleeding.

**

Sarah tried to work on the papers before her but she couldn’t concentrate. Her mind kept wandering to the brave young man who had went out to fight for a woman who didn’t even remember him. She chuckled to herself, recalling the kiss she had accidentally seen. It didn’t seem to matter if Bekka had lost her memory; it seemed she still liked Tim.

It had been obvious there was a real attraction between the two when they first came to the harem. They had flirted openly with each other while waiting for Sarah to check them over and she was quite sure they would be in each other’s arms (or beds) as soon as they were initiated properly.

She shot to her feet as Aly drug Tim into the clinic. She clutched her hands to her chest, “ Tim! Aly! Are you BOTH hurt? “

“ Whassup? “ Tim swayed a little, very exhausted. His face was smeared with blood, definitely from the gash on his cheek. He was breathing in short gasps, letting Sarah know he was hurt elsewhere.

“ Do you know why was he fighting with that guy? “ Aly looked at Sarah, “ Tell me because he’s being no help at all and I am in a lot of pain too. “

Sarah nodded, “ Let’s get you two taken care of and I will tell you. I am surprised he didn’t tell you before he went. “

“ I am too. He could have used my help, “ Aly struggled to stay on her feet as Tim’s weight almost became unbearable. “ Who was that guy he was fighting with anyway? He was HUGE! “

“ Follow me and I’ll tell you once I look at you both, “ Sarah walked quickly as she led Aly down the hall to an empty room. “ Put him on the bed and you lay down on the other one. “

Aly lay her brother down and collapsed onto the empty bed after propping the staff against the wall. Sarah pulled on a pair of rubber gloves then drew some hot water and grabbed a washcloth. “ Don’t worry about me, Sarah. Just get Tim. He took a real beating out there, “ Aly said.

“ I’ll take care of him first then I’ll look at you, “ Sarah looked in a drawer for the right medicine to put on Tim’s gash. It seemed that she was happy and scared for him at the same time.

Aly rolled her eyes and looked over at her brother. It seemed Tim had fallen asleep the second he hit the bed. “ Was that guy one of the bounty hunters? “

“ No. Do you remember that necklace of Bekka’s? “ Sarah came over with the things she needed and a bowl of hot water to rinse the washcloth out in.

“ The red one? “ Aly watched as Sarah dipped the cloth into the water.

“ Yes. Tim said that there was a demon in it. “

Aly nodded weakly, “ I remember her saying something like that. “

“ Well, he thinks it was released when the necklace was broken the night we found all of the carnage in Bekka’s room. “

Aly pushed herself onto her side, wincing a little, “ So that guy he was the Daedra Lord from Bekka’s necklace? “

Sarah nodded, “ Tim also thinks that he raped Bekka and then threw her out the window. “

Aly’s eyes began to glow red, “ If I had known that, I would have done more than paralyze him! I would have ripped his heart out through his nostrils and cut off his… “

“ Calm down, “ Sarah looked over at Aly, “ He’s gone now, isn’t he? “

“ Yes. Tim destroyed him with that staff over there, “ Aly pointed to where it was propped against the wall.

“ Is that the one Bekka’s friend gave him? “

Aly shrugged, “ Some blonde man in a dream he had last night gave it to him. Did he tell you about it? “

Sarah nodded at she cleaned out the gash, “ He didn’t tell me everything but he did say Bekka’s friend gave him what he needed to destroy the demon. “

“ That was Enova? “

Sarah scratched her head, “ I don’t recall his name but I think that’s what it was. “

Aly shook her head, “ But why would he go out and risk his life for her? Bekka doesn’t remember any of us. “

“ I don’t think I matters to Tim if she does or not, “ Sarah smiled.

“ What are you saying, Sarah? “ Aly blinked, “ That my brother has a crush on her or something? “

Sarah chuckled, “ I’m surprised you didn’t notice. I saw them kissing this morning and he told me that he does have a crush on her but don’t tell him I told you anything. “

“ That explains a lot then, “ Aly sighed. “ Do you think it may be more than a crush, Sarah? “

“ It could be more than that but only time will tell. “