Breaking Through Time

Chapter 15 Battle

I see men charging towards the walls of the wooden castle, they shout as they run towards it with weapons in their hands. Then there is a shower of arrows shooting from the castle. Some of the men fall down on the ground, but most of them continue charging. As they get to the gates they start to pound with force on the wood, until it breaks and they are able to go through. There they are met with another set of arrows and other weapons.

I watch this in horror as I am waiting for our turn to be deployed. My heart is starting to beat faster as I know that our round is getting closer.

Finally, we run. Frida raises her voice and gives the order, everyone shouts and I join in. The rush of adrenaline is indescribable. I have never felt anything like this before. I am ready to die. I am quite certain I will die. But somehow, being surrounded by those inspiring people, all focused on their purpose I am completely fine with dying. It even feels like an honour to die today amongst these people.

We reach the walls and there is already an opening and we squeeze through pushed by more men behind us. Inside there are already bodies everywhere and men are fighting with swords and axes. Women are screaming and running, hiding in the corners. I stay close to Boleslaw and Arne and I can see that they are keep on looking over their shoulder, to check if I am still there and ok.

As they get involved in the fight, we naturally split and I am left on my own with a heavy sword in my hands and my heart in my chest, beating in panic.

My senses are heightened. I smell the sweat, blood and smoke in the air, I see everything around me very clearly. I listen to the noise of the steal weapons and men shouting and grunting and women weeping... I suddenly hear a scream that stands out.

Well yes, everyone is screaming around me, especially the women, but this scream is different. I can hear several men screaming in shock or pain? Or both? I decide to see what is going on. I leave the main entrance and the place where most of the fight is taking place and I move to a side alley, I can hear more raised voices, It sounds serious, concerning... I turn a corner and I see a group of men surrounding something, raising their hands in the air.

I walk closer, still holding my sword tight. I see a man laying on the floor, holding his chest and breathing rapidly. I can see he is about to lose his consciousness.

Why do so many men are getting a heart attack in this time? Maybe all the swords fighting is too stressful? I think as I see the man has fainted. I can hear the men scream in grief and realise that this must be someone important to them as they are choosing to be here with him, rather than participate in the fight. I sigh to myself as I know that, what I am about to do, will probably not end well for me...

I push through the crowd and shout.

"Let me through! Let me through! I will try to save him!"

I get to the man and give everyone around us a dirty look and scream

"Step away! he needs some air! Disperse! " they look at me as if I am mad, but I fix his body, straight on the ground and tilt his head, check the airways... I look up and see the confusion on everyone's face, so I shout

"I am a witch, I will try to help him, but you must help! Stand by the wall" I point out where and they start to move there, still staring at me intensely. I start CPR, by giving him the rescue breaths and I can hear the sigh of shock of the people intensely observing me. Some are starting to walk towards me, but they are stopped by others, they start arguing over whether or not let me proceed.

I carry on with the heart massage, rescue breaths, hart massage, another rescue breath and as I lift up my head to inhale air to give him another rescue breath he suddenly opens his eyes and sits up, looking around in shock. After a few seconds tiredness overtakes him, he still is breathing loudly and I tell him to calm down, and breath deeply and in a rhythm, which he does. People sigh and shout and cry. I look as some are nearing towards us. I decide it's time for me to make my exit.