Fireheart: A "Throne of Glass" Fanfiction

Chapter 18

Two months later, Aelin stood at Orynth's walls.

Verlis had pushed them back. Farther than she ever predicted.

His army was not 30 thousand strong.

It was 60 thousand strong.

Now, her armies stood at 20 thousand and his at 30. Orynth's walls, Aedion predicted, would be where the Brute King's forces would break.

"They're here," Rowan said. Indeed, the northern horizon was now dotted with torchlight.

"I can't believe they've made it to Orynth. I promised he wouldn't even touch Terrasen."

"Wars are unpredictable. We will win. For every soldier we lose, we take three of his. His armies would have had to be 150 thousand to make that match. And he wasn't winning every fight. You just made the wise decision to fight from the high ground, where his brute tactics will have no advantage."

"It was Aedion's strategy. And because of it, three of our greatest cities lie in ruins."

"Empty cities."

"Its still a great dishonor."

"I think the people are happy to know you value their lives over three names on a map."

"Still-"

"Your mind will find any reason to blame yourself. The 'benefit of hindsight' is a poorly named curse. We will win this battle, and take Veralis. If 120 thousand couldn't crack these walls, 30 thousand will not do it. Not to mention his lack of flying monstrosities, witch towers, and Valg princesses."

"We will win." Aelin said to herself. She put the horn to her lips and blew.

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Aelin had joined the ground forces. Phoenix was still tired from another oceanic flight.

She cut and stabbed her way through Verali's troops. She spotted Brane plowing through her soldiers with his massive warhammer. She blazed a path to him.

Her fire was drained. Not gone, but she couldn't clear the field.

Still, she made her way farther and farther until Brane spotted her. Her sword, having its own power, still blazed. He brought his warhammer to rest upon his shoulder and walked over to her. His soldiers stopped attacking her- as if he had just marked his territory. His soldiers cleared an opening between the monarchs, still running at the lines.

The Guard had been broken. The Bane was now the front, and their numbers were badly hurt.

Aelin raged.

"You come to my nation, burn my cities, and think to take me for yourself?" Aelin demanded. "You will regret ever making a son."

"I do not regret wars. And I do not fear pain or death. I am a man. I am a king. I do not falter, I do not waver. I will burn this city, and everyone in it. Your mate, your heirs, your friends, will die. And when they are dead, you will be chained in irons to my bed. You will beg for death. I will not grant it, because I do not kill defenseless women." He said.

"Nice speech. It won't save you. You don't have the numbers, you realize that? You have more, but yours die quicker than ours. For every one you kill, we kill three."

A horn blasted through the air. Aelin glanced to see Anielle's force.

"Oh, and that. Old friends of mine. Only 5 thousand, but they are fresh and it should be enough." Aelin turned back to Brane. He slammed his warhammer to the ground and swung it at her. She rolled under it, the massive hammer bringing a gust of wind with it. She sliced at his shins, but he didn't even flinch. He smacked her away with the back of his hand. She tumbled to the floor.