What is love?

Chapter 23

    When the phrase was shared throughout the capital, Dimitri’s heart stopped. Fear filled his blood every way it could, but he was determined. For a split second, the fear went away and all he felt was the need to protect the one thing he cared about the most. These feelings that he had been feeling for the first time had now been lifted, and he knew he needed to protect Annabelle. What will happen? What could happen? His thoughts flourished, but his heart stayed true. He needed to protect the one he believes he loves. What is, love?

Dimitri quickly shook his head and called Emil to follow him down to the gate. As they went as fast as their horses could go, they went for the gate where everyone was meeting. When they got close to it, the one thing they noticed was how quiet it was, despite the yelling from the captains. There was no one, but soldiers and Guards lining up. They saw where the king and the general were and they made their way to them.

“Sir, we’re ready. Where would you like us to be?” Dimitri said seriously to the King.

“We are getting everyone in position. We want your specialties to be in front of the middle Battalion, we are planning to send horsemen first to try and trample as many of these beasts,” as the king said, the General took over.

“And once they fight off as many as they can, they will retreat to the back end as the first Battalion charges in. They will fight as best as they can until the left and right Battalions march on the sides to give backup. If that fails, then the one you will be with will attack next. Your Battalion will be nothing but Entity and Royal Guards, so that should do it. And if not, then god have mercy on our souls,” as the general stopped, he looked down and up in a nervous way.

Realizing the nervous feelings that were building up, he spoke once more, “understood, we will fight as hard as we can. And if I fall, I promise I’ll take hundreds with me.”

“Let’s just hope you won’t have to fight,” as the King finished the three bow to the King and the General and they rode over to their positions.

When they started to ride, Emil rode next to Dimitri and said, “if anything happens Dimitri, I just want to say that I am so happy and honored to have been your friend. Even if you kept you supposed to be a king a secret.”

Emil smiled as Dimitri replied, “no, it is my greatest honor to be able to fight by your side. If I die today, I’ll be happy to have died by the side of my brother.”

“Let’s just hope it doesn’t come down to it,” Emil nodded to Dimitri as he rushed infront.

The three of them lined up in the front of the battalion, where the captain was and they listened as the captain spoke.

“Listen, today many of us will die. I know that isn’t something you want to hear, but it is the truth. Besides that, if we are to die today, then let's make sure we die and not those who seek protection within those walls,” as the captain kept going, the men roared in determination.

As Dimitri looked around, he saw everyone roaring proudly and ready to fight. While he looked around to his surroundings, he locked eyes with Annabelle and he grew a smile, even through all of this.

“Annabelle, I’m sorry for all the trouble I have caused you. I should have been more selfless about the way I did things. I knew rushing it would have been bad, but something I’m not sorry about is the way I feel about you. If those feelings die or not today doesn’t matter, as they were only for you. Annabelle, I lov…” as Dimitri tried to finish, he was interrupted by the horns blowing again.

    This time the horns were different. They had a fearful tone, but they also filled those who heard it motivation and strength. This is what it felt like to fight and prepare for battle. All these fears and courage. All of this determination and regret. Even so, all Dimitri could think about was the woman that was beside him, this girl that he fell for.
   
When he looked forward, he began to hear another pair of horns, these horns drew chills within him. As he saw everyone getting ready, everyone looked over to the hills that they were told they were attacking from. With the pain of not knowing when they will appear and how rushed through everyone. There was silence for a second. There were no horns or yelling, not even breathing. All you could hear was your heart pumping, and the sweat dripping from your face. Until they heard a loud roar in the distance and finally everyone's hearts dropped.