Late into the night, when the ever busy palace halls had gone quiet, came a knock. Another one until it caught her attention. Cautious and nimble, she opened the window to let the source of the disturbance in. She still remembered the first time in how scared she had been. In came a beautiful paper bird, looking as alive as any other. As she caught it and laid down, it unfolded into a letter addressed to her form her dear accomplice.
The letters always came seeking cooperation and promise. They had joined hands towards a common goal. Freedom and revenge. Revenge for his people and his loss. Freedom from her captivity and atonement for all her unwilling sins. And in those letters you had found hope and maybe a little warmth in knowing little things about the other, broken in sense and a broken self. They had allowed themselves a little piece of happiness.
''The delegation is to arrive today, my lord''. He was listening to his aides speak, but his mind couldn't focus, at least not since he entered the palace wars. ''Check how the preparations are''. He commanded his aid as he swiftly left towards the throne room. In the silent hallway he heard a sound that made his heart drop. A shrill, so painful. It was as if his own skin was being peeled off. He felt just shiver down his spine. But soon he felt only anger and fear, not for himself, but for the little happiness that fate had spared him. At first, he was only shocked, but as he came to recognize the screams, he prayed in his heart. After forever it seemed he had begged the world again. Please, let it be all right. Let her be ok. He stormed into the throne room, clenching his sword. His eyes filled with rage.
There she lay, wounded and bleeding. She gave a faint and faint smile upon his arrival. The emperor had expected him, after all, how could he let a shrewd wench shake in his rule? The bells ringed, signaling the victory of his troops. Thanks to her, who had taught and given everything she could. As his sword clashed with the emperor's, his mind was clouded only by her. She screamed ''behind you'', then, giving up the slimmest chance of survival she had. She broke the invisible chains blocking her magic. She instantly felt the pain of being shred into a million pieces as she shielded him from the rain of arrows. The last sight saw was that of a head rolling on the floor. The high and mighty Emperor had finally been forced to touch the hard ground.
She closed her eyes in peace as she felt the pain of all the slashes she had endured and the consequence of breaking the chains set upon her.