Written for Samsquatch67

I own the rights to "The Return" and all its characters.

How had it come to this? Land that had once been home-hallowed ground-now become a battle ground? The shining city stood behind him, and the darkness of a destroyed land stood behind his brother. Life wasn't a fairy tale. As it was said; Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. So there they were, light against darkness, good and evil. Black and white. There was no grey... there was no way they could put together whatever had broken along the years.

The scene was still as the two armies stood-mirror image of each other, light and dark. It was still. No one moved. Brother stood against brother, so close, but miles away... both waited for the other to make the first move to fight. Cade never wanted this. He'd never asked for it. In fact, he didn't even know why; why was his brother leading an army against his own people? It wasn't Ryden-it just wasn't HIM... but there he was.

Would either of them make it through the night it this battle actually ever began? If they did, would Ryden lose sleep? What if-heaven forbid-one of them killed the other? This war-this fight against his own blood-may not kill him physically, but it would kill a part of his heart... a memory. It would hurt; it would always be there... like a scar from a wound that would never heal.

'Ryden...' He reached out, looking at the black horde of the army coming against him. 'Ryden, you don't have to do this.'

'Yes I do.'

'Why? What have I done to you? What is there in our past that couldn't be fixed?'

'You don't fix anything.'

'I don't understand.'

'No... you never do.'

What did Ryden see when he looked at him? What had he done to his brother to become so hated? How much had things changed in three years? He wished he could go back to simpler times... when scars and secrets were never kept from the other and when promises were never broken. Now, it would take more than promises to mend whatever had broken. Only God could change Ryden's heart... because Cade couldn't, not anymore-God knew he'd tried.

The first arrow flew from his brother's bow, and hit the ground at his feet. Ice spread from it, killing the field flowers in an instant.
Cade closed his eyes for a moment and hung his head. 'God save his soul... please. I love him, but I can't save him from himself-or from Your wrath. Please forgive him for whatever he does...'

The attacking army charged forward in an instant like a black cloud, covering the ground they took. Silver swords were drawn, and soldiers of light moved forward to meet them in a battle for the world.