Before the gate, Orm and Arthur stood face to face, sword to sword, all other combatants had laid down their weapons. The water was thick with blood, yet the predators stayed away, by command of Arthur. Here, on this spot, where the terrible wars of the past had begun & ended, so would this one.
The strong current of the Atlantic, pulled at the armor of the royal guardsmen, and at the fabric of the civilian warriors as the brothers circled each other like sharks over their intended prey. Surrounding them, the people of Atlantis stood. For the first time in centuries, Tritonians & Poseidonians stood side by side, united against a common enemy. Whoever won this battle would claim lordship over the sunken nation.
"I know who you
really are ‘Orin'," Orm taunted with an evil sneer on his face, "and you will not destroy me. You will not take my throne from me!"
Orm rushed forward, swinging fast & low towards Arthur's ankles. Arthur hopped back & brought his sword sloppily down towards Orm's outstretched hand. Orm blocked the swipe with ease. Orin, relatively embarrassed by the sloppy move, recovered quickly.
"You do? You know who ‘I' really am?" Arthur jabbed forward, and Orm easily parried the swing. Sword fighting was something Orm loved, although he preferred the sharp end of his trident. "Enlighten me then, Orm, who am I?"
Orm backed away from his brother towards the crowd, shifting his sword into his right hand, pointing it towards Arthur. He stretched his left hand out towards the gathered crowd as if pleading with them to believe him. He began to circle Arthur as he spoke out loud to Arthur & the gathered people.
"This… thing, claims to be my brother. The so-called rightful ruler of this nation." as Orm continued, his voice grew louder & louder, "He is no more human than those devils that circle above." Orm had paused before Mera, raising his sword up toward the sharks circling above to emphasize his point & then leveling it again toward Arthur.
"What the Hell are you talking about you neurotic…" Arthur began but was cut short as Orm grabbed Mera, swinging her about, and placing his sword to her throat.
"Do not play the fool with me," Orm furiously spat, "this is your mother's fault, you know."
"Orm, you coward. Let Mera go, this is between us."
"You would be wise not to speak out of turn,
creature." Orm threatened as he paused. The people gathered around held their collective breath. Arthur, bowed his head and placed his sword slowly at his feet. Orm, continued his predatory circling. "You see, this is not my brother. Orin died on Mercy Reef where I left him. His mother, Queen Atlanna, was never found. This... creature... this
thing, is her creation. She must have found my brothers body and performed dark magic to give it life again. This is not Orin. No, I made sure the brat Prince would die on that reef. I personally chained him to the rock."
Those in the crowd that never knew the truth behind Orin's disappearance gasped in horror at the claim. Roduun was one of them. Arthur slowly turned, never taking his eyes off of Orm's. Mera struggled against her captors grip, but he pressed the sword harder against her throat.
"This thing, is the stuff of our nightmares. The thing that your parents told you about at night to frighten you into bed. The thing you probably tell your children will come into your homes and devour them, if they don't obey." He paused as the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves. "That's right… you know. You've seen it. He can control these creatures that surround us, that hover over us, that feed off us if we're not ever vigilant. Look at him. The blonde hair… this is Kordax."
Arthur looked into his brother's eyes in confusion. Arthur had no idea what he was speaking of, but Orm was certain of his claim. The crowd stood silent and still, until at last one in the crowd began laughing. A deep guttural laugh. "Who dares mock me?" Orm shouted.
"I do" came the voice of Kalandro, Lord of Tritonis, "This is not Kordax. He came to us to negotiate a truce between our nations for the freedom of both. Kordax would simply have conquered."
Vulko then stepped up beside Kalandro, "And, if I may be so bold and speak for all of us gathered… we would rather take our chances with Kordax or any number of his descendants than suffer another hour under your heal."
The crowd stood firm, looking to one another, speaking in whispers & nodding to one another in affirmation. Orm whirled around, Mera still captive, with a look of shock on his face.
"How
dare you… I am the Ocean Master. He will lead you to ruin, his blood is cursed. You will see more suffering by his hand…" at that moment he loosed his grip on Mera and she drove her elbow deep into his stomach, knocking the breath out of him.
>>
NOW!!!<< came the telepathic command from Arthur, as he caught Mera in his arms.
Porm the dolphin swam as fast as lightning into the center of the battleground, ramming into Orm, shattering the bone in his sword hand. "AAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!" Orm screamed in agony, dropping to his knees.
Arthur strode toward Orm and stood over him. His defeated brother, biting back tears, looked up into his hated brother's eyes. "Orm, as rightful heir to the throne of Poseidonis, I hereby banish you, and your followers, from Atlantis until the end of your days." The crowd around them began to cheer.
Arthur turned his back on his brother, and walked back toward Mera. Orms tears of pain, turned into tears of fury. Reaching out with his useful hand, he gathered his sword and rose. He ran towards Arthur screaming,
"THIS IS MY KINGDOM!!!"Orm was dead before his body hit the ground. The sword that was thrown struck him between the eyes. The crowd gasped for breath at the sight of their oppressors horrific demise. Arthur turned to look at Roduun, a determined look on his face as he dropped to his knees "My Lord, please forgive me…"
Arthur turned, walked up to Mera, wrapped her in his arms and checked to see if she was alright. He turned to regard the former Captain of the guard, nodded and walked toward the great gate of Poseidonis. His home.
~
