Confrontation.

The final battele betweeb the rightful queen and the usurper.Arerto and her Entourage arrived at the city and looked at the dirt floor. Her friends took their seats and they all waited for Chasin to arrive. Arerto was dressed in her gold and white armour and carried her short amazon sword in its scabbard. They did not have to wait long as Chasin appread in her Silver abd black armour also with a short sword. They both took up the round metal shields then squared off facing eachother. The battle began.The two fought with the ferocity of two lions roaring from the jungle. The swords continued to clash the sound reverberating around the now packed arena. Chasin swung her sword high but Arerto Jumped and flipped to the side and while in mid air saw Chasin's sword hit empty air.Steel hit steel and both women usd their shields to block blows from each others swords. They were both beginning to sweat as they fought. Chasin managed to trip Arerto and when she was on her back Chasin came in raining down blows. Arerto blocked them all and then realised that she had won the battle.Arerto allowed Chasin to rain down the blows because she knew it took more stamina to swing the sword that to lift a shield to block the blows. Soon Chasin backed away feeling the fatigue of the fight. "You win" she said "I give up my claim to the throne".

A small smile graced her lips as she said it.Arerto got to her feet and offered her hand to Chasin. "A sensible choice Chasin". Chasin accepted her hand and then thrust a dagger into Arertos arm which caused her great pain but she managed to bring her sword around .in a sweeping movement and sliced into Chasin who fell to arena floor with a surprised look on her face. The last thing she saw was Arerto on her knees holding her arm blood dripping from her fingers. Freya and the others rushed into the Arena floor and picked Arerto and took her to the royal chambers. A healer was sent for and dressed Arerto's wound and they let her sleep. However later the healer came in search of Freya. "General you must come quick the Queen she is not recovering and i fear she has been poisoned. There is nothing more i can do to help her." Freya entered the Queen chamber and saw her laying in the bed eyes closed. Freya approached and sat on the bed taking Arerto's hand in hers. Arerto's eyes opened and she smiled weakly" My friend i am glad you came remember that parchments i gave you i think you will need to open it soon" she rasped.

"Do not be sad my loyal friend i have had a good life thank you for standing by me and Freeconia" she coughed before carrying on " Remember i will aways be looking down on Freeconia and my friends" Then Arerto took her last breath and Freya felt Arerto's hand go loose in hers. She gentle closed her friend eyes and crossed her arms in peace. Then she left the chamber to find the others. Freya found Jasmine, Cassandra, Killiane and Katherine and with a trembling voice and tears in her eyes she informed than Queen Arerto had died. They all stood there in shock as they came to realise that Freeconia now had no Queen. Freya left and went to her quarters and found the parchment and reluctantly broke the seal. She read the instructions in the parchment and smiled a little. As she went to the palace scribe and asked for athe surviving nobles to be summoned to the throne room for a special announcement.This would set how Freeconia would be ruled.

Epilogue.

The days following Arerto's deaths saw the recall to Talia of Princess Karleen who was as Arerto's sister proclaimed Queen of Freeconia. Her first edict was to form a royal council of advisors. On this council was Freya, Jasmine and Katherine. Cassandra was made the head of the army subordinate only to the council. Killiane was switched from the army and made Admiral of the new Freeconian navy started by Katherine. When they had been clearing out Arerto's belongings they had found a sealed document address to Katherine. ~My dearest Katherine you are reading this because i am dead. I wish so much that it was not so i will miss your soft touched and warm body. You have always had my back and other parts. I hoped that i also got Chasin and now my sister Karleen is on the throne serve her as you would have served me and do not grieve for to long.~

After the Queen of Pragar had gone missing Pragar had started to fall apart with rampart looting and lawlessness until Agnethia stepped in and with Karleens help started to rebuild but this time there was no Queen but an elected body of representatives from each district. The palace was converted into a seat of government. As an honour to Arerto the country was renamed to Terrapacis which loosely translated into Land of peace. A statue of Arerto was erected in the town square and Heahel was brought into the country. Melusa was happy as well she had found a place on an island where she lives with her **** Pragar. She is thinking of adding a new **** to her household and that would be Cressida.

Thaden had also had a statue erected in his city for the fallen Queen Arerto and it was guarded everyday all day. Arerto had made him a great leader in his countrymans eyes gaining extra territory. Many treaties had been signed by Thaden and Karleen and between Thaden and Agnethia. Back in Talia two statues had been erected one to Queen Arerto and one to the fallen warriors from both sides of the conflict to honour their sacrifice. Helinda was made a General posthumously so that her parents and sisters could be proud and also have a better pension. So for now everyone lived peacefully and happy.