Tales of Eldor - The Warden

Chapter XI - The Mage

Silence falls over Valiant Hold. The grieving fires light up the night while everyone mourns the loss of their fallen heroes. Not a word spoken, yet final goodbye's are being said as the Elders open their doors for the valiant dead. Marius wraps his arm around Jess' shoulder, looking down at the fires below. It dawns on him how lucky they are to survive the onslaught while so many never returned from the field of battle. Looking at his little girl in his wife's arm, he can't help but think she is the reason he came back. Every opponent he faced, the image of Jess and Harleen crossed his mind, giving him a reason to fight on, to prevail. He leans towards Jess, pulling her head a little closer and kissing it on the side. "You have no idea how much I love both of you." He whispers. Jess remains silent as she rests her head upon his shoulder. He knew in his heart he was lucky, but not all shared in his fortune. As he looks around he see's the people he cares about in tears, grieving family and friends. Gwen, Galadrin and even Daliens stands beside them teary-eyed. The victory they celebrated now completely undone by hurting hearts and empty homes. Then there it was, the voice. The voice everyone hoped to never hear again.

"You so called victory is a hollow one. Your dead are merely fuel for my eternal army. So do not grief but rejoice, you to shall join my legion! Even you ... Cromwell."

Its words ignite fear among everyone present. Sending chills down the spines of the braves soldiers, including Marius himself. "Jess, take Harleen! Evacuate the city!" He shouts even though she stands right beside him.

"Bu ..." she stumbles.

"Now! Protect her! I will come find you after .... I will come back! Now go! Take as many as you can with you!" He shouts, quickly kissing both their heads.

She wants to protest but their daughter in her arms spurs her to action. She crawls down the nearest ladder and makes her way true the panicking masses in the streets. Marius meanwhile makes his way towards Dalien. "Dalien, can you do something?"

"I ... I can probably put a barrier up where the wall is breached but ..."

"It would trap everyone outside. No ... we have to stop who is behind this or undo ..."

"I'll find something, i ... i need my books." Dalien mumbles and scurries off, leaving Marius looking down at his panicking people. He takes a deep breath, knowing what is to come. Knowing another onslaught will be the last for Valiant Hold. But he was not going to give up so easily. As long as he draws breath he will fight for his people, his wife and his daughter. "Valiant Hold!" He unsheets his sword, holding it above his head. "Will you fight with me one more time!?" He shouts at the top of his lunges, making his soldiers snap out of the fear that gripped them. He makes his way down the ladder, but then he notices. The dead are standing up from atop their burning pyres, their bodies ablaze. Thousands of them, standing up at once, deprived of emotion, pain, fear. Only empty husks with one goal, more death. Before they move he reaches the courtyard with his sword still up in the air, as a beacon for his men. One by one they rally to his side. Gwen, Galadrin, Racnor, they turn up, soon becoming a wall of flesh and blood between the dead and the living. This time with no place to retreat, no hope of reinforcement, no hope for victory. Yet there they stand, filled with fear, prepared to die for their home. Soldiers true and true.

"Men! We are all that stand between dead and our families, our friends, Eldor itself! It has been the honor of my life being your warden!" His men respond with the clatter of sword and shields. "Valiant Hold! Valiant Hold!" They shout. Fear converted to bravery. Terror to anger.

"We stand with you warden! We fight till the last!" Gwen shouts, coming out above the clattering steel. The dead turn their heads, all at the same time. Their gaze fixed on the line of soldiers awaiting the burning clash that awaits them. Racnor motions his centaur cavalry out the gate, hoping to stop the flow of reinforcements once their onslaught begins.