As if their encounter had been arranged for years, the two warriors began to circle each other. Ines was eyeing him with a stony expression, her body tense and ready for anything, while the elf had plastered a smile on his face, like he was trying to show that he had the upper hand of the battle.

From far away, the terrible sound of the explosions of the warfare was followed by the equally terrible echo that resembled an anguished cry, a plea for peace. It made Ines' skin crawl.

The cold rain kept falling mercilessly, as if the heavens too disapproved of their crimes. Cold water seeped into her clothes, and her face was soaked, the drops coming together to run into her eyes and drip from her helmet. She only realised that the rain was cold because her body carried the heat of her blood, because her inner fire was burning strong. That gave her courage.

'I'm here to finish what I've started,' the villain spoke.

'This fight is between you and me!'

'I admire your spirit. It's a shame I have to kill you,' he faked disappointment.

'You will never win!' Ines screamed at him and took a step closer.

The elf smiled evilly. 'We'll see about that,' he murmured but Ines heard him despite all the ruckus around them. The moment he uttered those words, his eyes turned white, and his hands curled into fists to conjure up magic. So, this is it, this is where I meet my fate, she thought. She put on her bravest face and gripped her sword, calling upon her powers. She was ready. She had stepped on those lands so many times before. They wouldn't betray her.

An eerie silence stretched between them as they took their positions. Ines stood tall, her long blade glinting in the darkness. A huge explosion rang in the distance, and the elf turned to look. The instant she saw that opportunity appear before her, she sprang forward.

She had already forgotten the pain and fear that occupied her every thought, but not her thirst for justice. She ran at him, swinging her sword high, but he had anticipated her move. He jumped away from her and twisted his body so that he was facing her back.

With snake-like nimbleness, he thrust his leg forward to trip her, and Ines jerked away from him, blocking his hit with her shield. She turned and came back at him once more. The elf rolled under the arc of her sword, causing it to slice the air instead of his skin.

Ines was used to men giving in under the weight of her blows, but the villain was nothing like any opponent she had confronted in the past. She would have to fight harder that she had ever fought before, smarter and quicker than she had ever done before.

Ines gathered her magic and snarled at him before charging again. The elf brought his hands to the front and aimed his magic at her, but she didn't falter. She hacked and slashed, until a tremendous blow hit her, as formidable as the hands that released it, a blow to split heads, a blow to crush bones.

Ines' powers barely managed to absorb the surge, and she felt her legs wobbling from the effort, but didn't let that stop her. She directed a great thrust at him, and he masterfully darted out of range, striking her with his magic every time he found an opening.

Ines twisted and turned with inhuman speed, but he was equal to it. His eyes shined in the darkness as he parried effortlessly and returned her attacks with malice. As quickly as they had come together, they broke apart.

At some point, Ines sprang forward, with her shield brought to the front, and the villain thought she would aim low for his knees. He slid to the right to avoid her, but her blade hissed over her shield, and struck him in the side. Hard enough to surprise him and make him lose his balance.

Ines chopped at him again, this time going for his neck, but the elf moved quick, much more prepared than he had made her think. He caught her blade with his hand and snatched it from her hand, while striking her with his magic.

Ines felt the fire emitted from his blow scorch her face and instantly tottered to the ground, trying to gather all the strength that remained inside her. With a deafening scream, she met his powers with her own. She absorbed the tremendous wave of heat but it demanded too much strength from her, strength she didn't possess.

She was tired and hurt and was growing careless. When she felt her powers give in, a fist suddenly collided with her jaw and sent her sprawling on the ground. She groaned in pain and spat red on the white snow.

I have gone through worse, she reminded herself and went to rise, but a savage kick in her ribs made her fall back down. She felt him grab her ankle and yank her towards him. Her breath ripped at her chest as he dragged her, the frost digging in her armour.

She suddenly sensed him pause and saw him raise his hand towards her. Before he could carry out another attack, she began wrestling away from his hold. She kicked and swore and kicked again, until her boot smashed his cheek and sent him stumbling.

That gave her enough time to stand up and snatch her sword from where it had landed. She let out a shaky breath and winced once pain shot through her body, coming from her shoulder. Ines turned around and glanced at the villain. That exchange she had to judge a draw, for they were both marked.

When he saw her glare at him, ready for another round, the elf let out a carefree chuckle and casually stared back at her. 'Your struggle is pointless,' he said. 'I will kill you slowly and painfully. I will make you pay for what you stole from me. And then, I will burn down your city, your people. Everything.'

'We'll see about that.' She sprang in. She swung her sword forward, her shield an unbreakable wall, her powers always there to protect her from his strikes. She led her blade low. The elf dodged her move, stepping to her right, but she was already there. She brought her shield up and crashed it on his nose, blood running down his chin.

Lighting struck and Ines saw him smile so wide it seemed his mouth was a black hole. But under that calm facade she could see the doubt in his eyes, the fatigue crawling up his limbs. Now it was her turn to smile.

She lashed at him again, whipped her weapon at him, but the elf danced away and fought back with equal force. She sent a kick into his ribs, and he blocked her foot with his hands. She raised her elbow towards his exposed face, but the elf was too quick. He seized her arm, his fingers closing around her wrist with a deafening smack.

With his other hand he thrashed his powers at her, and Ines winced in pain once she felt her throat closing up. His powers had paralysed her. The noise of the battle raging around them instantly faded away as she vainly tried to take a breath and couldn't. Her lungs screamed from the lack of oxygen, and her vision slowly filled with black spots.

Focus, she mentally shouted at herself. She called upon her magic, hoping to nullify his powers' effect on her. She knew there was no time for second thoughts, so she ignored the suffocating sensation that weakened her beyond any human endurance and focused her mind in freeing herself from his torturous grip.

The seconds trickled by. No breath. No hope. Every hard-trained muscle of her body strained, but he was too strong. He caught her tight around the throat and forced her towards the ground, blood flowing down his neck. His wicked smile only terrified her more.

Her chest was burning, her eyes were blurry. She tore at the elf's hand with her nails, but her movements had no strength in them. The whole world was rapidly growing dark, and Ines shut her eyes, her face twisted in agony. I have failed, she thought in dismay and ceased to fight back.

The moment she feared would be her last, the elf's hand was suddenly snatched off her neck, his powers no longer holding her hostage, and Ines drew in a chocking breath as she flopped onto the ground.

She coughed. Every breath felt like a miracle. Slowly but surely, she began to recover from the near-death experience and peeked around her. The sight before her left her speechless.

The old elf had miraculously appeared, saving her just in time from the villain's grasp, and right then the two of them were engrossed in a vicious fight for survival. The old man was weary, his stance had loosened, but he was still able to meet his blows without fail and wage his own against him. Ines raised from the ground and sat still, putting her weight on one leg, and watched them fight in perturbation.

'Peter! I have a plan! Shield me!' the old man's shout slapped her to reality.

Ines glanced at him in suspicion. She couldn't trust him. She had stopped trusting him long ago. Was he planning something? Was that the moment he would switch sides and proclaim himself an ally of the enemy?

But why save her? Surely, it would have been so easy to get rid of her. Unless he wished to do it himself. No, he wouldn't be risking his life to defeat him, she mentally argued. She still didn't understand his plan, but she had no choice. If winning meant that she would have to face them both, she would gladly do it.

Ines sighed and gripped her sword hard, moving to face the elf once more. She clenched her jaw but had already grown used to the pain. She only hoped she wouldn't regret her decision. 

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Α/N:  I'm uploading this chapter while the snow is slowly covering everyting outside. If you're reading this, please send a star to guide me in the snowstorm :)

Phrase of chapter:  πᾶν ἐφήμερον, καὶ τὸ μνημονεῦον καὶ τὸ μνημονευόμενον / all is ephemeral — fame and the famous as well  - Marcus Aurelius