I'm stuck on a an ending because the ideas I come up with seem to be contrived. I'm trying avoid this tactic.
In my story, the villainess and heroine in a battle of magic give each other what appears to be killing blows. The heroine has a staff that contain a number of non-aggressive properties one being healing. The problem is I have already established that the healing isn't 100% or instantaneously in a previous encounter and that the staff took the brunt of the attack thus saving her life. However she was bedridden for a while.
The killing blow she gives the villainess is from an outside source she is forbidden to use and not from the staff.
I thought about having the boy friend heal her with a sword he has but doesn't know is magical. I could go back and hint at this, but this sounds contrived and lame.
I also think I could kill off the heroine, but don't want to put a bad taste in my readers mouths by disappointing them. I'm not totally against downer endings if they have a point to be made. My theme is glory. I'm not sure if saying glory has a price to pay is good enough to satisfy the readers..
I have also thought of having her friends contacting the heroine's superior and have him heal her. This sounds a little complicated and maybe contrive.
I welcome any suggestions, comments, and/or questions.
In my story, the villainess and heroine in a battle of magic give each other what appears to be killing blows. The heroine has a staff that contain a number of non-aggressive properties one being healing. The problem is I have already established that the healing isn't 100% or instantaneously in a previous encounter and that the staff took the brunt of the attack thus saving her life. However she was bedridden for a while.
The killing blow she gives the villainess is from an outside source she is forbidden to use and not from the staff.
I thought about having the boy friend heal her with a sword he has but doesn't know is magical. I could go back and hint at this, but this sounds contrived and lame.
I also think I could kill off the heroine, but don't want to put a bad taste in my readers mouths by disappointing them. I'm not totally against downer endings if they have a point to be made. My theme is glory. I'm not sure if saying glory has a price to pay is good enough to satisfy the readers..
I have also thought of having her friends contacting the heroine's superior and have him heal her. This sounds a little complicated and maybe contrive.
I welcome any suggestions, comments, and/or questions.