Warring Kingdoms - Strife for Victory

Chapter 8 - Into the Darkness we fight

Our forces marched towards Fortress Winrah. If we won this final battle, we would win our land back again, maybe even possibly take over their kingdom, gold, and land. We wouldn't have to deal with barbarians and savages like them again. 

The march lasted 2 days. When we arrived at Winrah, all of us, 150,000 men, were triple to the numbers of the enemy. Fortress Winrah, was one of our biggest and strongest. We would at least need triple the numbers. Fortunately, we had a clear battle plan.

First, we would split into 3 forces. We would march around the whole fortress, and our main focus was to protect the archers. As 10,000 men would protect our 20,000 archers, The rest, 120,000 men, would siege the fortress. We would overwhelm the castle by jumping onto their walls and getting rid of the survivors from our archers' volleys. Then with our higher ground and more men, we would block the entrances from the outside and clear them out. 

The rest of the reinforcements from the King's Castle arrived at our camp. The traveler had brought in new armour and weapons for the soldiers. Our 150,000 men were all tired from their hike over the Grevja mountains to arrive at this camp. In around 3 hours, we would siege the castle. 

"Halt!" Shouted Lord Ichvar as he ran towards me. "The Keroldians are receiving reinforcements. I don't know how they message got out, but it's happening. We need to attack this castle before they arrive!" 

I bolted upright. My hands clenched the grip on my sword. "Have you told the king?" I asked, my palms sweating.

"No sir. I came to you immediately." Ichvar said while panting. 

"Then what are you doing! Contact him at instance!" I roared. I snatched the horn from my chest and blew. As the horn sounded, all heads rose. 

"Everyone! Prepare for battle! Suit up at once!" I roared. Our camp shuffled and in less than 10 minutes, we were all prepared. I blew the horn once more. "All attention!" I climbed up onto a high ledge. "We need to finish this once and for all. Keroldian reinforcements are on their way. Line up for battle!" I roared. 

We approached the fortress. As we circled, our footsteps shook the earth. Our horns repeatedly blew, and we smashed our shields against each other. I made eye contact with an enemy soldier. I saw fear strike straight into his eyes. 

"ALL ATTENTION!" I shouted. Everyone got into position. "WE. END. THIS. WAR. ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!" I shouted. All of our men roared. 

We marched around the castle. Our turtle-men, the defensive ones, stood towards the inside of the circle, facing the looming fortress. Our footmen and Royal Knights stood behind them, positioned in a total of 3 circles. And behind them, were the archers. They were the most vulnerable, but the key to our victory. As we marched around, our men chanted our battle cry,

"Uuuuah! Uuuuah! Uuuuah! Uuuuuuuuah!" 

Then, my final horn blew as we all halted our march. We all turned to face the fortress. I blew on my horn three more times. Our archers caught the signal. They nocked their arrows and arched their bows. 

"Fire!" 

Pfftttt! The arrows flew up and thudded inside the fortress. Screams arose as another, and another volley showered upon them.

"Charge!" 

Our men roared as they attacked the fortress. As we crossed the moat, shieldmen and archers showered down at us. Our men fell one by one to the ground. The water was poured from their walls and our ladders slipped back into the moat. Men toppled on top of each other. As that went horribly, we had a better situation on the front. Our army had decided to focus the doors. We cut down the drawbridge's ropes to disable it from drawing it back. We then proceeded to smash through the door. Half of our men covered our other men from the archers from above and after countless smashing blows, the door's lock ripped open. We stormed in, but I was immediately shot on the hip and went flying out of the horse. My men didn't see me and the rest of them charged over me. 

-=+=-

I was immediately sent to the medic tent. My wounds were severe, a gash in my shoulder, a cut on my chin, and a tear on my left arm. I couldn't see anything. My vision was unclear, all I saw was the doctors and King Windsor's face. 

-=+=-

Rain dropped onto my shoulders. The cold winter rain dripped from the top of the tower. I, standing below the tower, overlook the city. It was peaceful. No intruders, no enemies. Then suddenly, a fire arose. Through the rain it burned, destroying the whole town within seconds. An army charged from the north, then from the west. My feet sank into the ground. Like quicksand, in seconds, I was engulfed by the dirt. Dirt and mud filled my eyes and mouth as I was dragged underneath. Then, I hit stone. The rocks shifted and made way for my lifeless body. Something was dragging me down. I was dropped into a cave. I spat out the dirt and looked around. I wasn't alive. My body was on the ground, but I wasn't. I was merely now a lifeless soul. As I went deeper into the cave, I saw other men. King Windsor. Ichvar. Adelene, my wife. Her hand passed through mine. I wanted to see her, but the wind dragged me away. I was presented with a gateway. The light shone through, and as I stepped backwards, the wind swept me off my feet and I fell over. Not like this, I thought to myself. I reached for the light. As I crawled, I was dragged down again. From all my hope. From all I wanted. 

-=+=-

"AHHHHHH!" I screamed. I bolted upright, but I didn't see any doorway. Any cave. Just the tent. 

"Sir? Are you.. Alright?" One of the nurses asked me while tending to my wounds. 

"Yes.. Um.. How long have I been passed out for?" I looked around. Men were sprawled around the tent, all crying with pain and nurses tending to their wounds. 

"It has been 2 weeks, sir. We were all worried."

We had lost 30,000 casualties from this war. It wasn't much compared to Keroldian's 100,000, but it meant the war had finally ended. This war, started in our father's generation, now finally came to an end. I couldn't believe it. The 10 year war that lasted all my adulthood finally ended. Half of me rejoiced, and the other half.. felt empty. What would I do? I now had nothing to live for. I hated war but defeating Keroldia was my goal until now. And wee technically did. Except for that their kingdom existed. Our first war, fought by my father, defeat for us. The second war, fought by me, victory for us. Now. It was our best chance for now, to approach and destroy the Keroldian Kingdom, once and for all.  

-=+=-

Hey! This isn't my best work. For sure. But watch out! Soon, the invasion into Keroldia will commence, and you MUST look foward to the juicy battle. Anyways, See you all later!