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My Romeo's Lullaby

My Mother's Locket.

Cora walked through a hallway to the stadium. She could see the light at the end of the tunnel and the cheering of the people started to get louder. Andy walked behind her and watched her. He was worried ofcourse, but had good faith in it.
Cora stood at the end of the tunnel. Jinxx gave her the two short swords. She pulled her mouth cap up before gripping them tightly.
The champion stepped into the light and the crowd was going wild. The stadium was round and the floor was very dry.
Her heart was pounding through her chest, but her mind was at peace, something Madness thought her.
The door opposite of her opened and Aiden walked through first. Her father had a thick layer of steal on and his sword was wider than any sword she has ever seen. Seeing him made the memories come back.
Her eyes started to water, but then she looked up on the bleachers. Andy and the whole council sat there.
Madness nodded and gave her a look of 'I know, it's okay.' Cora looked at Andy who sat on the edge of his chair. He smiled weakly and his puppy dog eyes blinked.
She had to do this.
For the sake of her kingdom.
Franklin's mouth dropped and so did his sword. His eyes filled with shock and fear. Aiden was also shocked, but more with anger.
"You can't to this to me, this is my blood!" He shouted at the councils.
Andy stood up.
"IT HAS BEEN DECIDED, YOU CHOSE AND SHE DID TOO." He yelled.
The crowd was quiet and looked at the two champions. Aiden sat down on the bleachers and looked at Cora.
How dare she? He thought.
Franklin struggled to get his helmet on and didn't wanted to make eye contact with her.
Cora didn't move a muscle.
"Begin!" A horn was blown and franklin stood there.
"You don't want to do this, sweetheart." Cora snapped and swung her sword at him, he dodged. "Don't you dare call me that!"
Andy watched with fear. She wasn't supposed to talk. That was a trigger.
Cora suddenly remembered and put her swords up as protection. "Fine, you want to beat me? Beat me, see if you have it in you."
They walked in circles, trying to get the other one to make the first move. Aiden really have gotten into Franklin's mind. Cora looked at her father.
"Think, Cora, Think!" She whispered to herself.
Okay, okay, his feet are like mountains, has a poor grip on sword, is left handed and has always been bad in riverdancing.
Cora smiled under her cap. Her outfit made it easy for her to run around and that's exactly what she did. She took two big, flying steps to get behind Franklin. Franklin swinged his sword to his right, Cora ducked, slid past his ankle and gave him a big wound with her sword.
She quickly got on her feet and he fell to the ground.
He groaned and dropped his helmet.
The sweat drops rolled down his face.
Cora's feet walked over the gravel sand and breathed in. Franklin stood up and swung his sword to Cora's right.
She jumped down and cut the straps of his armor.
His left arm piece fell of.
Cora was behind him now and this started to look like 'tag you're it'. He swinged again and again, everytime with more anger. Cora walked back until there was no space left and crossed her to swords from decapitating her.
She pushed his sword of of her with a groan.
Franklin was quick and kicked her the knee. She fell down. He had his sword in the air, but when he struck down Cora rolled away and hinked behind him.
God that hurt. Her feet started to burn from the hot sand. "I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU." He yelled in defeat.
She walked to him and gave him a quick cut in the arm. He groaned and tried to hit her, but she backed up. She made eye conact with Andy and it was like he was trying to say 'finish it!'.
Cora focused her father again and she swung her sword in cross wise to confuse him him. He did and walked back wards.
He fell back.
This is it.
Cora had her sword in her hands, pointing down above his heart. She made eye conact with her father and she teared up again.
Andy stood up again and wanted to do something.
Cora's hands shook.
She can't do it.
She can't. "I can't do this." Her tears rolled down to her mouth cap.
Franklin grabbed her ankle and slammed her down on the floor.
Cora yelled in panic. Franklin got on top of her and started choking her.
The crowd gasped and Andy grabbed the railling. Madness stopped him from jumping of and helping her.
This was her battle.
Cora struggled to breath more by the second. Her vision started to blurr. She felt around and found something. Her eyes started tearing even more.
"I loved you." She whispered.
Her right hand grabbed the short sword and swinged it in the air. She closed her eyes before swinging it to her fathers head.
The crowd cheered and yelled. She jumped away and started sobbing hysterically.
This time Madness let go of Andy and he immediatly jumped of the bleachers and ran to her. Aiden walked away in the shadows.
He can't handle this embarrasment. Cora sobbed into Andy's arms. She didn't even dare to open her eyes.
She would never get that image out of her head. Andy's council stared with sympathy and remorse.
Andy picked his girl up bridal style and walked back to the changing room. The horn was heared again and the man anounced the winner.
Cora yelled and sobbed, but Andy didn't let go of her. In the room he sat down and had Cora on his lap.
He didn't try to make her stop he just hugged her.
She needed this moment now. "The worst part is over, princess." she nodded and calmed down. She knew it would be hard, but this was soul crushing.
Madness walked in.
"Next week will be your coronation and wedding, now Andy and you will rule over Forendall and after the wedding it will be mine." They nodded and she walked out.
The council walked in and started comforting her.
Emertha walked in and gave her a locket. "What's this?" She inspected the locket and recognised it immdediatly.
It was her mother's. "I found it around his neck." Emertha walked away. Cora opened the locket and saw a picture of her mother and her as a baby. She cried silently and kept looking at the locket. "I remember saying to him that I would never touch a sword."