[u][center][h3]Marianne Delacroix[/h3][/center][/u]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/Jr0Uu63.png?1[/img][/center]

Marianne's heart filled with a little joy feeling Sir Ian's ear flick against her. She admired the young man for his valor, but as she looked around and saw the battle nearing its end, she saw no need for him to continue as hurt as he was. Looking over to one of her men, she beckoned him over as she found an appropriate spot to lean Sir Ian against. The pile of rubble offered sufficient cover and concealment, easily defensible by only a few men. Her men silently understood her desires, forming up around Sir Ian to protect him. 

[b]"There is no need, Sir Ian. The Iron Roses have very nearly won. Fight if you must and find a need to, but I would rather you stay safe until we can return home and tend to your injuries."[/b]
Marianne spoke with kind and gentle tone, kneeling on one knee as she spoke face to face with the Hundi knight. 

Standing, she turned and allowed Sir Ian to remain in the good hands of the soldiers they commanded. Returning to Sir Tiral's side, she watched on as he cast his spell and doused the flames quite effectively. As he froze the entirety of the tree, she couldn't help but become awed by Sir Tiral's prowess with the magical arts. Perhaps after their current mission, she would have to confide in him and request to be tutored. Though, she doubted that he could help her develop her own spells because of her affinity for lightning magic, anything new she could learn would be greatly appreciated. Her own understanding of magic only going so far to allow her to know a grand total of two spells. Now, they could cross to regroup and reinforce Captain Fanilly's numbers. But, for what she had in mind, that may or may not be needed. With a graceful leap, Marianne landed on top of the iced-over wood and stabbed the point of her blade down to act as an anchor to steady herself as she knelt on one knee.

Looking across the horizon, the other Iron Roses were holding their own against the bandit leader Jeremiah. Out of concern for her comrades, she couldn't help but worry that they may not all make it out of their duel unscathed. This mission needed to be done with. Their fight had to end and quickly at that. So, turning head to look down at Sir Tiral, she decided it was now her turn. Whether or not they would accept Marianne's aid was up to Sir Garret, Dame Tyranthe, and Dame Sult. She simply wanted to expand their options.

[b]"Sir Tiral. As you rest, I politely you request that you allow me to bide time. I'll be supporting our fellow Iron Roses from where I kneel here. I leave my care in your hands, please watch over me."[/b]

Turning back to eye the bandit leader Jeremiah from her distant location, she removed the dirtied white gloves she wore and set them on the ground. Reaching up with her now bared hands, she then removed the white veil she kept in her hair. The veil bearing the symbol of the Delacroix and acting as a slight remedy to keep her long hair under control whenever she became [i]electrified[/i], a blue rose attached to it simply for fashion. Clutching the veil in her left, she bowed her head and raised her right hand toward the skies. Her palm opened wide as if to beg to the deities above.

Closing her eyes as she started to channel and collect her inner mana, she began to recite the lengthy incantation that called forth her currently most powerful spell. One that she was certain could either turn the tide in the fight against Jeremiah, or end him altogether.

[b][i]"I HAVE invoked thee, O Sun, in the midst of the high heavens.
Thou art in the shadow of the cedar, and thy feet rest on the summits.
The countries have called thee eagerly, they have directed their looks towards thee,
O Friend, thy brilliant light illuminates every land, overthrowing all that impedes thee, assemble the countries, for thou, O Sun, knowest their boundaries."[/i][/b]

Like a exploding swarm of insects, Marianne's mana erupted from her body and took its form. Angry and feverish arcs of yellowed lightning crackled and hissed, spider-webbing across her body as they covered her. The ground upon which she knelt began to hum and vibrate as a slight warm glow emanated from Marianne. The arcs climbing and crawling upward as they began to collect in her palm, creating an orb of intense and bright light. As her mana collected, the surrounding area began to warm and heat. The frost on the tree thawing outward with Marianne as the center and source. 

[i][b]"Thou who annihilates falsehood, who dissipated the evil influence of wonders, omens, sorceries, dreams, evil apparitions, who turnest to a happy issue malicious designs, who annihilates men and countries that devote themselves to fatal sorceries, I have taken refuge in thy presence."[/b][/i]

Gradually, the intensity of her emitted heat and light increased. Growing more and more as she continued to weave and cast her spell through her incantation. Her hair floating and levitating from the static build up as stray arcs of electricity raged and snapped out to strike at random points on the ground around her. The sound of her spell cast becoming louder and louder. The humming causing the ground near her to tremble and shake, deafening. The crackling akin to hundreds of miniature explosions with their pops and snaps. 

[i][b]"Do not allow those who make spells, and are hardened, to arise.
Frighten their heart,
Settle also, O Sun, light of the great goddess Reon
Right into my marrow, O Lords of breath, that I may rejoice, even I."[/b][/i]

The orb of lightning in her hands increased in size, like a miniature 'Sun' in its own right. The air around her heated to the point of where it became difficult to breathe. The light blinding, forcing any to look away. The trembling ground from the vibrations of her spell cast made it difficult to stand on steady footing. The arcs of stray lightning threatening friend and foe alike and dared any to approach her.

[i][b]"May the goddesses who created me take my hands!
Direct the breath of my mouth!
My hands direct them also, Lord, light of the legions of the heavens. Sun, O Judge!"[/b][/i]

Opening her eyes, she tightly clutched the orb of lightning. Crushing it as she 'finished' her incantation. With a loud roar and thunderous boom imitating a localized clap of thunder, the orb took its final form as a long and jagged javelin or throwing spear. A gust of wind erupting outward dramatically upon its birth. Marianne basked in the warm, golden light of the massive spear. Her figure difficult to lay eyes on as she remained there on the fallen tree, her gaze locked onto Jeremiah as she waited for her moment. All she required was a clear shot, for her allies to safely move out of the area. All she needed was a signal, a sign. When that moment came, she doubted that even Jeremiah could evade her spell or even survive it. Its flight path and speed caught many off guard, which would seal their fate to an early grave.

If they simply finished Jeremiah off, then that would be that and Marianne would allow her spell to die away. At the very least, her presence on the battlefield now served as a major distraction and prime target. For until her spear was allowed the freedom of flight or to fade away into quiet death, Marianne could not freely move. Though anyone foolish enough to come near her risked being burned, electrocuted, or hit at point-blank range from the javelin. Without Jeremiah, surely the remaining bandits would surrender and their lives spared. Her brown eyes took on the same color gold as her javelin, expression stoic as she focused all of her attention to maintaining the spell and on ending the bandit leader's life.