On reaching the comely lass, Sweetcheeks reached out, grasped Zelda by her frock and twisted her around.

SMACK!!

She slapped Zelda so hard a welt immediately rose on the wenches cheek.

Zelda stumbled back and put her hand to her cheek. " WTF??" she wondered to herself.

"Get lost, guttersnipe!" hissed Sweetcheeks " He's mine!"

Zelda took in the disheveled hair, the mud spattered brocade and the raging red of Sweetcheek's face. Then she started to laugh. "If he wants you... he can have you!"

Sweetcheeks became enraged. With a snarl she leapt at Zelda. Claw like fingernails were ready to gouge. Fingers were ready to grab hanks of hair. Teeth were ready to sink into creamy flesh.

Just as she almost had Zelda... a hand grabbed her and swung her to the ground.

A squeal of anger escaped from her throat. Looking up she realized who had dared lay hands on her.

"Hawk! How dare you?? Your head will roll for this!"

" I dare touch a "lady" who has forgotten how to behave as one. You act more like a "fallen angel" than one who is a fallen angel. I wouldn't marry you for all the gold in the kingdom. " Luckily for Hawk, he was interrupted before he said any thing else.

"Way! Way! Make way for his Royal Majesty, King Thunderballs !"

"What in the name of all that is holy is going on? Why is my daughter laying on the ground, wallowing in the mud like a hog?"

"Oh, Daddy!!" Sweetcheeks whipped up some tears," It's terrible! Hawk did this!"

"Your Majesty, I can explain!" Hawk started sweating, his neck started feeling tight and his bowels felt loose," I just stopped Her Royal Highness from injuring further my wife to be."

King Thunderballs looked from his daughter, to Hawk, to Zelda. A gleam came into his eyes.

King Thunderballs grinned and said "Well, now. I think you'll do just fine as my new son-in-law! You certainly know how to keep Sweetcheeks in line... I couldn't keep her Mother from being a shrew... looks like you'll be a fine King someday."

Zelda gasped and ran from the Tourney field. Her last hope had crumbled. Hawk would never be hers again.

Hawk wanted to scream to the gods about the injustice of it all. He pasted a sickly smile on his face and spoke to the King. "Your Majesty, I don't know how to say this..."

He got no further as Kraak spoke up. "Fight not over! Him not beat Kraak! Kraak get angry!"

King Thunderballs considered this... although the idea of Hawk as a consort for his daughter was very appealing... having an ogre was doubly delicious! He knew that Sweetcheeks would never be able to henpeck Kraak. "Let the match continue" proclaimed the King.

Sweetcheeks was aghast... Hawk had been in her grasp and now this??"But Father!!!" she whined, " What about him pushing me down? Are you going to let him get away with that?"

"Go sit down and wait for the winner to come claim you. I'll decide Hawk's fate upon the outcome of this match."

Everyone stepped off the field except for the two combatants. The crowd was eager to see who the winner would be but not so eager as to raise the King's ire.

Once again Hawk and Kraak faced one another. Both were tired, sweaty, greasy and ready for this to be all over. The horn sounded and the two warriors began to fight.

Kraak grabbed Hawk and lifted him into the air. He then threw Hawk down onto the ground and proceded to kick him with his horny toes.

Hawk rolled as fast and as far from the ogre as his battered body would allow him. He managed to regain his feet just as Kraak caugt up. Hawk slammed his forearms into his opponent's belly. His arms ached as did all of his body.

Kraak had had enough! With a roar he grabbed Hawk and started to choke him.

As Hawk felt his legs go limp and his eyesight go black... he also felt very happy.