Lezard's Triumph

The sound of the new God's name seemed to be the catalyst for spurring Alicia's companions into action. Lydia immediately lifted her bow, arrows notching into place as Dallas readied a spell. Alicia was conscious of the blood on her hands, the divine being laying crumpled at her feet. She wondered what this looked like to Lezard, to come across her, hovering over a dead God's body.

Lezard seemed unbothered by the arrows being trained on him, nonchalantly raising a hand to slide his glasses back up his nose. That familiar gesutre pained Alicia to see, the girl struggling not to be burdened with memories of the time he had traveled with her as a friend. She gave a shake of her head, trying to chase away the thoughts, reminding herself that Lezard was no friend of hers.

That hand of his lowered, going to rest on his hip as he considered the scene before him. A slight cocking of his head, a lifting of his eyebrow before he spoke, voice sending chills down Alicia's spine. "You survived my spell."

"Yes."

"You'll have to reveal to me how you did that." Lezard said, polite smile still in place. "I'm sure it will prove to be a fascinating story."

"I'm not here to trade stories with you." Alicia said, finding her voice to have a hint of an edge to it.

"Ah yes, that does bring up a very good point indeed." Retorted Lezard. "Just exactly why are you here?" His eyes narrowed, his smile slipping, his true nature revealed. "Did you come running as soon as you heard the news?!" A short mocking laugh. "Did you think to come congratulate me on becoming ruler of the Gods?" He wasn't letting her get a word in edgewise, words coming out faster, a furious edge to them. "Or did your foolish sense of honor, your code of justice make you realize it is your duty to try and stop me?"

"I..."

"Or maybe you think to steal away MY Lenneth." He practically growled that out, taking a step forward, his hand raising. At his movement, Lydia let her arrow fly free, Alicia shouting out a panicked word.

"Wait!"

But it was too late, the arrow was hurtling towards Lezard, covering the short distance to graze the side of his cheek. A trickle of blood marred his skin, ether sparkling across it in a quick attempt to heal his injury. Lezard looked even angrier, hissing out his words in a rage filled whisper.

"How dare you!" With a flick of his hand, Lydia screamed, being sent flying backwards to crash into the wall. The force that carried her caused the wall to dent and crack upon her impact, Lydia dropping down to her knees, barely hanging onto her bow.

"Lydia!" Dallas screamed, and immediately let loose with a fireball, the flame torpedoing towards Lezard. Alicia was drawing her sword, hands shaking as she watched Lezard look at Dallas.

"Ah Dallas...still as pitiful as ever I see." Lezard actually smirked as the fire smashed into his chest, harmlessly dissipating. "How someone like you ever became one of the three Great Mages of Dipan I'll never understand." He lifted his hand, finger extended to point at Dallas. "Animate Earth!"

Dallas screamed as the spell hit him, knocking him to the floor. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, the mage had managed to keep his magic shield up, blocking some of Lezard's spell. But the God wasn't done with the mage, still talking in that awful hiss as he approached him.

"You know, it pained me to have to pretend to be nothing more than your apprentice..." Lezard's foot slammed into Dallas' face, the mage whimpering in pain. "I watched you, you who held such promise. Watched you fail time and again, at the most simplest of tasks. And all because you are a coward who doesn't have the balls to do what was needed!"

"I couldn't...wouldn't kill innocent people!" Dallas moaned.

"There are no innocents in this world!" Lezard retorted, moving to kick him again. Alicia whipped her arm forward, her sword going to stab at Lezard's side.

"Stop!"

"Ah Alicia." Without looking, he grabbed at her blade, the pointed edge stabbing into his hand, causing the God to bleed. "I'll get to you in one moment. Dallas and I are having a little...chat."

"Leave him alone Lezard!" Alicia warned, trying to pull her sword back. He merely tightened his fingers around her blade, Alicia hearing a crack as the metal started to break.

"Please be patient Alicia." Lezard said just as another arrow was launched. It struck him in the chest this time, Lezard tearing his eyes away from Dallas to glare at the kneeling Lydia. "I'm getting dangerously close to losing my temper with you, girl."

"Frigid Damsel!" Dallas calling out a spell, summoning the ice maiden to his side. Her fingers were elongated, vicious claws of ice that she brought to bear against Lezard, slashing at his face and his chest. Distracted by the damsel, Lezard released Alicia's sword, the princess pulling it back to glance at the damage he had done to the blade.

Lydia was firing off arrows in quick succession, Lezard dodging as he grappled with the ice maiden. He snarled out a spell, flames licking across the summoned spirit's skin, making her scream and writhe in pain. She was soon melting away, Lezard turning to deal with Lydia.

"This ends now!" He announced, his whole body glowing with ether. The arrow in his chest crumbled to pieces, dust falling to the floor. Lezard's voice was an echoing murmur throughout the corridor, the God chanting in some forgotten language. Alicia shuddered, fearing what the spell would do, gathering her courage to speak.

"STOP!" She shouted, Lezard ignoring her in favor of continuing his chant. His hands moved, remnants of magic glowing across his skin, dancing and twirling about in an intimate caress. Alicia ran towards him, stepping before him and Dallas, her arms splayed wide. "If you kill us now...you will never, ever discover what happened to Lenneth."

The Goddess' name gave him pause, Lezard's chant ceasing as he leveled his gaze at Alicia. "Lenneth?"

"Yes, Lenneth." She nodded, not letting her sigh of relief escape her as he lowered his hands, staring at her consideringly.

"Tell me what you know!" Lezard snarled out a demand, purple eyes angry as he stepped closer to her. Alicia held her ground, managing to keep staring into his face as she watched him draw near.

"Not until we have a deal..." Alicia said, her words nervous as she stared back bravely into his eyes.

"What kind of deal?" Lezard started to ask, his tone suspicious. "Ah...you wish to beg for your pathetic lives. Very well, I will allow you to live in exchange for news about Lenneth."

"Not good enough." Alicia said, and Lezard scowled at her.

"You are stepping on my last nerve princess." The word princess was sarcastic, the God making a mockery of her former title. "What could you possible want that you place it above you and your companions' lives?"

"My husband." Came her answer, Lezard actually looking surprised.

"Husband?" He echoed, and Alicia nodded. "You? Married?" That polite mask of his was back in place, Lezard not having to feign the curiosity in his voice. "And just who is this husband, and why do you think I have him?"

"Rufus..."

"Ah yes, the half elf. Why am I not surprised to learn he survived too." Lezard said sounding displeased. "I suppose the vampire and the beserker survived also. I will have to see to the effectiveness of that spell." Alicia just hoped he wasn't planning to use her and her loved ones as experiments for his tests!

"I propose a trade...Lenneth for Rufus and Arngrim." Behind her, Lydia was helping a groaning Dallas to his feet, Alicia hoping the archer was ready to move should the fight resume. "In addition to sparing all our lives of course." She hastily added, not wanting to give Lezard a chance to betray them. It would be just like him to ruin their reunion with another attempt at killing them!

"Very well." Lezard said, smiling as his eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Now Lenneth...where is she...?"

"Hold on a moment..." Alicia's hesitation had Lezard looking annoyed, the man biting back a sigh as he gazed at her. "I still don't quite trust you..."

"Why Alicia..." Lezard made his eyes huge, trying to look innocent. "I'm hurt at your lack of faith in me."

"..." She said nothing in reply, wondering just how she could ensure he would honor their bargain. Would even Lenneth be able to reign in his murderous impulses and deceitful nature? She just didn't know, Alicia realizing it was a risk gambling with him.

"I should be questioning YOUR loyalty." Lezard said, and Alicia made an outraged sound. "After all, you could be planning to double cross ME. I know you princess, I know you can't stand to let me win, can't stand the thought to allow Lenneth to spend eternity at my side. You might very well be planning something once you get your Rufus back."

"We're at an impasse then." Alicia said, lifting up her sword. "You can try to kill us, but then you risk never learning where Lenneth is."

"Do not be so hasty Alicia." Lezard held up his hands as though to show he was harmless. Something he was most decidedly not! "I know a way to settle this..."

"Settle this how?" She asked, suspicion in her tone.

"What say you become a servant of mine?" Lezard asked, and she snorted. "I'm serious. I am in...need of some assistance. And you would fit the bill quite nicely."

"Just what are you getting at?" Alicia questioned.

"A Valkyrie Alicia. I need one...and you have all the qualities that make up a battle maiden." Lezard explained. "You're even able to materialize, something no human should be able to do..."

"Me a Valkryie?" She was dazed, stunned by the idea.

"Yes."

"If I do this...I could bind Rufus and Arngrim to me..." She realized. "Make sure they are never summoned back to Valhalla against their wills..."

"You could even set them free..." Lydia said softly, her voice a reminder that she had once been a bound einherjar before Silmeria released her.

"I'll do it." Alicia looked Lezard square in the eyes. "I'll become your Valkyrie."

"Think this through carefully..." Dallas started to say, but Alicia was reaching out with her hand towards Lezard. She knew if she gave herself time to think, she would quiver and shake at the thought of dealing with this devil.

"Excellent." Purred Lezard, and he seized hold of her hand. At his touch, light exploded from his hand, a pure snow white color, blinding her. It forced Alicia to squint her eyes close, and still the light persisted, making it painful to do anything but look away. She could hear Lydia and Dallas making exclamations, their voices panicked. She didn't try to assure them, she was too busy worrying herself.

She felt warmth from Lezard's hand, it felt nice, comforting, familiar. It felt like Silmeria, her presence surrounding her, swirling up her arm to embrace Alicia's whole body. She made a gasp, a pleased moan feeling her hair whipping around her face as though she was in the midst of a hurricane. Lezard released her hand, Alicia actually cried out in protest, trying to tighten her fingers around his, wanting both the warmth and his presence to anchor her.

Floating, she felt like was floating, her feet leaving the carpet as she hovered, eyes still closed. Along with warmth came power, a power she had never experienced before, feeling a voice whispering seductively in her ear. She tried to concentrate, to make out what it was saying, but it was too soft spoken for her. She felt something on her back, something bristling just under the surface of her skin, trying to come free of her shoulder blades.

She screamed in pain, feeling her skin split apart, something immense shooting out her back. The sound of bird wings was in the air, she could feel wings flapping, gently now, the pain receding.

Startling, her feeling of lightness faded as she felt something heavy weigh her down. Cool metal formed over her clothes, onto her arms and shoulders, covering her boots up to her knees. She fell to the floor, just a few inches but she was dragged down to her knees, head bowed as she felt a helmet form in place over her hair. The wings which she now realized were attached to her shoulder blades, settles around her, wrapping her in their soft embrace as the light faded in intensity.

Alicia opened her eyes, her first sight was of Lezard looking down at her. She gasped and raised her hands to her head, feeling the helmet there, finding the feathers that protruded out the sides. She tried to stand, but the wings held her down, and there were voices ringing in her head. She cried out, slapping her hands over her ears, trying to block out the sounds, block out the pain of the dying.

They hurt, and they cried out with all their regrets, lamenting the things they never got to do in life. It was too much to take, too depressing, and she looked up at Lezard, her eyes pleading for help. He bent towards her, brushing his fingers against her forehead. Mercifully, the voices stopped, allowing Alicia to breathe a sigh of relief.

"You just have to concentrate." Lezard told her. "The new powers will respond to your commands..."

"My commands..." Alicia echoed, and with a thought, she bade her wings be gone. They seemed to explode with light, feathers flying everywhere, only to disappear upon touching the carpet. Now she could stand, and she did so, realizing she was wearing armor similar to the three Valkyries, a blue shade that was so dark in certain lights it looked purple.

She sensed a presence, focusing her eyes to the left of Lezard. As though in response to her attention, the air rippled, red and black ether appearing as tanned youth with short cropped black hair stepped into the hall. His face was anxious, an angry scowl on his lips. He seemed to vibrate with angry energy, but the sight of her his eyes widened, the God coming to a complete stop.

"Ah Loki..." Lezard had turned his back to her, looking at the God. "You're just in time to meet my new Valkyrie."

The anger seemed to fade away from Loki's face, but Alicia could sense it, lying just underneath the surface of his skin, waiting for a chance to bubble up and explode. He studied her like she did him, and at last a smile crossed his face.

"I am honored to meet you Lady Valkyrie." Loki said, offering a stiff bow to her.

"Likewise." Alicia said, giving a slight bow in return.

"Ah..." Loki had noticed the dead God, and he turned his attention back to Lezard. "What happened to Forseti?"

"We don't know exactly." Admitted Lezard. "Alicia, do you have any ideas?"

At least he wasn't accusing her of killing the God, Alicia sighing and shaking her head no. "He just appeared, gravely injured before us. He died before he could tell us who did this to him."

"Ah...such a shame..." Loki said, and to Alicia he sounded relieved.

"You know Alicia, you never did tell me how you know about Lenneth." Lezard said, turning back to face her.

"It was the God, Forseti who told me. It was his last words before passing on..." Alicia said, hearing Loki inhale sharply. She glanced at the God, but his face revealed nothing.

"Alicia and her friends are going to retrieve Lenneth for me." Explained Lezard, smiling. "I am very much eager to be reunited with my beloved Goddess."

"Lezard no!" Loki said, and everyone stared at him in surprise. "Don't send the Valkyrie after the Lady Lenneth."

"And just why not?" demanded Lezard with a sneer.

"Think of Lezard...she would be much better suited to being out on the battlefield, commanding the einherjar." Loki said, his tone urgent, his words rushing out. "She should be out where our troops can see her. The sight of a Valkyrie will be greatly reassuring to the soldiers, they will be revitalized!"

"It matters little to me where you send me." Alicia said, thinking she could search for Rufus out on the battlefield. But Lezard was shaking his head no, causing Loki to make an exasperated sound.

"No Loki. Alicia is untried at commanding armies. She will be much better suited for a rescue mission. A small party should be able to infiltrate where Lenneth is kept, and get her out without being seen."

"Fine then...at least allow me to accompany her." Loki said, not quite able to hide the annoyance he felt at Lezard disputing his advice.

"No Loki, I need you here." Lezard said, Alicia relieved to not have the God tagging along with her. "There is much that needs to be done if we are to win this war, and frankly...the Gods and Goddesses I have here are just not cut out for the battle."

"But..."

"Do not argue with me Loki. I am giving you an order." Lezard said, his voice raising slightly in volume.

"Fine." Loki was less than pleased, anyone could see that. "If you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for battle."

"What's there to prepare for?" Lezard asked, a chuckle escaping him. "Besides, I need you right now. We are going to clear a path to the rainbow bridge for Alicia and her companions to make for...where was it Lenneth is being kept?"

"Jotunheim." Alicia supllied.

"Ah yes, Jotunheim. Funny that they didn't seek to hide her somewhere less obvious." Lezard shook his head, smirking. "We really are dealing with a bunch of rank amateurs."

"Right..." Loki sighed.

"Are you three ready?" Lezard asked, glancing at Alicia's companions. She turned too, seeing Lydia and Dallas nodding their heads, determination in their eyes. "Good...let us be off." His hand glowed, light bursting forth to form a double headed lance. It was the sacred spear Gungnir he now held in his right hand, Lezard using his left to adjust his glasses.

Lezard began casting ether about, Alicia willing herself not to shake with fear at the sight of the sparkles coming to touch her skin. She had to keep reminding herself that Lezard wouldn't hurt, wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his chances of being reunited with Lenneth.

Coated in ether, their surroundings blurred, Alicia hearing Dallas gasp as he got his first taste of divine teleportation. Alicia felt disoriented, seeing the beauty of the hall blurring, the bright colors being replaced with the darkness of night, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow on the battlefield. Dallas stumbled, Lydia reaching out to steady him with her hands. Alicia just stood there staring, seeing chaos all around her.

The field was lit up with fires, people running about, their weapons drawn. Large giants who seemed to be made of rock, were lumbering about, their gigantic fists smashing into einherjar, batting their bodies around like they were rag dolls. Screams accompanied those who were hit, horrible sounds as they were beaten an within an inch of their lives.

Healers were venturing out until the field, being forced to come to the injured for there was no time nor man power to spare to bring back the fallen to the tents. Some of the injured were left alone, moaning, there simply wasn't anyway to safely tend to them so long as their attacker lurked so close. The healers were forced to sit back and wait, watching helplessly as other battled the stone giants.

Alicia tried to see if she could spot Rufus and Arngrim, but there was so many people, they crowded onto the battlefield blocking her line of sight. Over to the North, was a large wall, giants trying to tear it down as the einherjar attempted to stop them. It hadn't been here the last time she arrived in Asgard, Alicia realizing it was a hastily made defense against the giants.

"Come." Lezard said, walking briskly along the ground, his cape flaring out behind him. He seemed to know where he was going, Loki pacing besides him, neither God pausing to see if Alicia and her friends were following. She shared a glanced with Lydia and Dallas who just shrugged and shook their heads. With a sigh Alicia was moving, hurrying to keep up with the two Gods.

Lezard stopped by a tent, lifting the flap to step inside. Immediately the talking ceased, people dropping into low bows at the sight of their lord. A scarred faced man was before a table, a large map of Asgard laid out before him. Figurines were on top of the map, marking key strategic places, and there was even a block to represent the wall.

"Ah Tyr. Just the man I was looking for." Lezard said, walking over to the table. He paid little mind to the map, looking at Tyr instead.

"Lord Lezard...What brings you out on the battle field?" Tyr asked.

"I thought I'd get my hands dirty." Lezard answered, and waved over his shoulder at Alicia. "I want you to meet our new Valkyrie."

"A Valkyrie?! Here?" Tyr's eyes lit up. "She will be a great asset to us..."

"Indeed she will." Lezard said. "I want to take some of the troops out beyond the wall..."

"What?" Tyr paled. "But we are in the midst of battling the giants who invaded our camp...we cannot spare people to do a suicide run out beyond the wall...not until the situation in our camp is taken care of."

"You'll just have to make do with smaller numbers Tyr." Lezard said, crossing his arms over his chest. "My Valkyrie needs access to the rainbow bridge. If she is going to rescue Lenneth, she will need support as she makes her way across the field."

"You mean the Valkyrie isn't staying here..." Tyr frowned.

"No. She is needed elsewhere." Lezard said. "See that the einherjar are ready. We are moving out in ten minutes."

"Lord Lezard, I really must insist against this plan..." Tyr began, but Lezard spoke over him.

"Your objections are duly noted and rejected." Lezard turned, striding out of the tent. Alicia shot an apologetic look to Tyr, before hurrying after the God.

"Are you sure about this?" Alicia asked, Lezard slowing down to hear her words. "You're endangering a lot of people in order to rescue Lenneth."

"She is worth it." Lezard answered. "Everything I do is to be with her. Everyone else matters little to me."

Alicia said nothing, trying to imagine being so in love, so obsessed with another person that she would be willing to let people needlessly die so she could be with them. She fell short of her goal, unable to fathom the way Lezard's mind worked. It left her realizing this was yet another way she did not understand her former friend, Alicia sighing and shaking her head no.

As they made their way along the field, a few of the einherjar paused to stare at them. Alicia thought they were in awe of Lezard and Loki, but she soon realizing the awed looks and pointing were aimed at her.

"A Valkyrie!" Someone said, voice carrying to her.

"Lady Valkyrie please! A blessing!" Another called, the chant being picked up as einherjar paused to beg for her favors. It made Alicia uncomfortable not knowing what to do.

"We should help them." She said at last, hastening to explain. "Help deal with the giants."

"There is no time." Lezard said, not pausing.

"Then I'll make time." Alicia's voice was firm, already turning to run towards a group of einherjar that was struggling with a giant.

"Alicia wait!" Lezard growled out, but she was already moving. She heard Lydia's voice, the archer speaking sharply to Lezard.

"With your powers...you could easily put a stop to these monsters."

Lezard didn't dignify that with a response, and Alicia didn't stop, instead drawing her sword. She was pleased to see that during her transformation into Valkyrie, the cracks on her sword had been healed, the weapon viable once more. The einherjar cheered to see her, grateful for her assistance.

"Aim for the eyes!" Someone shouted, and an arrow whistled pass her face. Alicia turned, seeing Lydia running, another arrow already in place as she hastened to do as the einherjar had advised.

Alicia darted in close, swinging her sword at the giant's mid section, her voice raised in challenge. The giant bellowed a response back, bringing a curled fist down towards her head. Alicia quickly rolled to the right, avoiding being crushed, and while on her knees she slashed her sword at his foot. Dallas was somewhere in the distance, keeping well away from the giant as he labored to cast his spells.

Other einherjar were moving around her, circling the giant. There was so many they got in each other's ways, far too clumsy to avoid the giant's attacks. "Stand further apart!" Alicia shouted, the soldiers quick to obey her. "Give yourselves room to move!"

Lydia continued to pummel the giant with her arrows, desperate to catch him in the eyes. Suddenly something slammed into the giant's chest, causing the creature to let out a horrific scream. Seconds later it exploded, rocks being flung out in every direction, people lunging out of the way to avoid being hit by the jagged pieces. Alicia stared in shock, seeing smoke coming out of the crater where the giant had been standing. In the center was Gungnir, glowing with a white light.

As she watched, it slowly lifted off the ground, and flew past her, stirring up her hair. She whirled around, to see Lezard standing a few feet behind her, calmly taking hold of the spear once more. Loki was to the side of him, looking uneasy at Lezard's display of power.

"Now that you've gotten this...urge to help out of your system...let us be off." Lezard said. He noticed the einherjar who were standing up, brushing the dust from their clothes. "You five, come with us."

"Yes Lord Lezard." They said as one, eager to be of assistance to the God who had saved them. Alicia merely looked at them, feeling remorse. She knew Lezard intended to drag them out on the field, fight as a distraction for her to get away. She just hoped her conscience could live with the guilt she was already starting to experience.