DUTY AND FREEDOM

Chapter 22__Rest in peace

The soldiers of Shelagh are ready for war.They saw the warriors of Bough from afar and they were alerted.
Queen Cheryl had insist to come to the battle field.
"You don't really need to come Cheryl",  king Alex told her.
" I want to. I won't go to the front lines. I will just be there to encourage you. Don't worry, I will be safe. My sword skill is nit bad.", she assured him.
"If things get hard, run",  he told her.
He turn to Owen and few soldiers.
" Protect the queen with your life", he said.
The soldiers from the other kingdoms in the east are laying ambush. They did not want to alert Bough.
They are to come out when things get intense.
Queen Cheryl noticed as the soldiers of bough get closer.
Immediately they got to Shelagh. They breathe a sigh of relief and sat on the ground. They look like someone who is glad yo get home after a long journey instead of someone who got to the enemies land.
When they saw the soldiers of Shelagh, they seems to remember that they are in Shelagh to fight a war and stood up weakly.
"They are weak",  Cheryl told king Alexander.
" Weak? They are just putting up a show", he said
"No, I think something happened during their journey",  She said.
" Then they should have gone back to their kingdom", King Alex said.
"Attack!",  the commander of Shelagh yelled immediately the people from Bough sheathed their sword.
As Cheryl watched, she felt that this is not a fair war but rather killing of the weak.
" Tell our soldiers to stop this killing spree", she said.
The king gave orders to the commander immediately.
"The king commanded us to retreat",  he said and the soldiers of Shelagh retreated.
The king could not believe he listened to a woman during such a tense period but he just automatically obeyed her.
Immediately the soldiers of Shelagh retreated, soldiers of Bough sat on the floor.
" Don't give in to fatigue. We have to win this battle to save our family members", The commander told them.
That's the truth. None of them is fighting from the nation, they are all forcing themselves to do this to save their family members.
"Let's just die. I feel so sick.....",  one of the soldiers is saying.
" Why should we fight a kingdom that has retreated, a kingdom that did nothing wrong", another was saying.
"I can't take this anymore",
" We've endured for the past fifteen years. I think we can still put more effort for our family members"
"To this king of Bough. We are just tool. I can't he asked us to leave our fellow soldiers alone in the wilderness because they are sick"
"He is such a heartless king..."
"Then let's settle this peacefully. I will treat the sick among you and provide you food. I will also allow you get enough rest and recovered if you will return to your kingdom peacefully",  they heard a woman voice and saw the fair lady before them surrounded by soldiers. A man is beside her  He is probably the king.
" How can we believe you?", The bough army commander asked.
"We don't fight weak people. If you really want to fight this war, then recover and let's fight",  King Alexander said.
"Bring food to this people. Set your camp here and rest",  Queen Cheryl said.
" Why will you be so nice to us?", one of the soldiers asked. After All, we did want to fight your kingdom even though you did not offend our kingdom"
"The war must be instigated by someone. And I don't believe this people before me did not have a bottom line.
I have a lot of thing that I want to protect and I can do anything for them. I believe you have a reason for doing this. If you will return to your kingdom peacefully, Shelagh will not hurt any of you",  Queen Cheryl said.
" Are you planning to sweet talk my soldiers?", A deep voice asked.
King Jack arrived with some personal guards.
"Could it be that Shelagh are resorting to other means?",  he asked.
" So you're King jack of Bough", King Alexander said.
Queen Cheryl ignored the monkey face King and said to The soldiers of Bough, "decide. Your king is power thirsty and will do anything to get more power even if he have to step om his own people. He is very hungry for power that he had no bottom line. He once killed a king of Shelagh and Shelagh had no plan to forgive him. Chose between your king or your safety now. Remember that you are not in a good condition to fight our soldiers. Choose wisely",  She said.
King Jack Laugh.
" Don't mind this woman. We have to bring glory back to bough. Our people are waiting", he said.
"Are you sure this is for Bough and our people? Sorry but we are not doing all this for bough. We were forced to do this. You threatened us with our loved ones!",  The commander said.
"We didn't know about the feud between you and Shelagh but we will rather choose Bough than Choose you",  Another soldier said.
" Sorry, your majesty. We want to be loyal but if we choose you, we will die mercilessly."
"We will retreat peacefully if Shelagh will promise to send us away with enough food. We will leave and never return to Fight Shelagh.",  Another soldier said.
The commander bowed to King Alexander.
" Please do me a favour and let me send him away honourably.", He said.
He sheathed his sword and turn to King Jack who was frightened.  The soldiers  of Bough killed the guards that are protecting him and surrounded him pointing their sword at him.
The commander kowtowed before him.
"Give the king his last respect",  he commanded the soldiers and they all kowtowed.
" Your majesty"
"I will now take this burden upon me to end your dictatorship regime. Rest in peace"and he slaughtered him.
King Jack struggled as he took his last breath.
The soldiers of Bough remained silent for minutes.
King Alexander admired them.
They were not trained as soldiers but rather as tools for fighting but yet they are loyal. A man that is power thirsty like King of Bough did not deserve to live.