The Maiden's Song (draft-editing)

Chapter 37 Time of War 3 The Battle

Chapter 37 Time of war The battle



... With the first light, the horns were blown... It was time of war... The Abhainn armada, commanded by Prince Alasther marched up the Athame hills and placed the battalions in the formation for the battle. The cavalry was the first one to reach the top of the hills. The sword men and the archers were behind and then the rest of the men in horses. Soldiers were anxious. Nerves and adrenaline were transpired by the brave men that swore to defend their kingdom from the foreign enemy that once was an ally...

The colors of Abaihnn coat of Arms floated with the winter breeze. It was a magnificent view from top of the valley. The mountains made a perfect circle around a plain area. The snow covered every inch if it, and the only touch of color were the bared trees and the standing monoliths once were solar calendar and sacred sculptures for the "small people". A shallow stream intersected the valley, now almost frozen by the low temperatures that were falling in the region.

The purple and white flags of Cadocia were rising from behind the hills in the opposite side of the valley. Captain ordered the army to arrange into battle formation. The horsemen moved swiftly to the side leaving the frontal line of men kneeled on the floor with their shields covering both the frontal line and the archers. Men at horse were now distributed by each side and in the back of the men by foot. Only the Prince, Captain Von Freidd and the commander officers remained in front of the lines.

The full army of Cadocia was now atop of the opposite hills. The horns were blown by the army of Cadocia. Men were marching down the rocky mounds. The scream of battle was now heard from the Abhainn soldiers. The frontal line marched down the sides of the hills. The horse men flanked each side of the armada as they descended. Each army was too far to attack from their previous positions, so they moved to the middle of the valley. The men with shields kneeled then almost in the center. The archers were behind and horse men in the rear. A similar formation was adopted by the Cadocia's army as well.

The king of Cadocia spoke at a high pitch.-"You Prince of Abhainn... dared to insult my precious daughter Lady Katharina and humiliated her with the exile. You rejected her and put her in shame in front of the Northern Kingdom Alliance. With that you have insulted me and the rest of the people of Cadocia, one of the most powerful realms of the region. I declare war to you in this day Christ our Savior has made... You will pay with your life this affront! Your blood will stain the snow in the ground of this valley by my sword!"- He raised his sword and screamed: "Waaaaaar!"

The soldiers of Cadocia ran forward in battle frenzy. The Captain gave the order to stay still as the Prince moved escorted by two soldiers to the back of the formation.

-"Still.... Still"- The captain instructed as the enemy ran forward sending arrows and spears that were hitttin the shields of the awaiting soldiers of Abhainn.

-"Release!"- The captain commanded, as the archers released hundreds of arrows. The deadly strike hit dozens of soldiers of the army of Cadocia. There was blood everywhere as the wounded bodies fell on the ground. Arrows hit eyes, throats, extremities, heads... It was a display of blood and wounded bodies...

As the enemy approached running over their deadly injured soldiers, some of the members of the Abhainn militia were hurt too by arrows and spears. Battle was turning bloody and gruesome. But the soldiers of Abhainn remained in place. Some of they were killed or badly hurt, but they were still in their position.

-"Release!" - A second wave of arrows curved up in the sky as they flew and hit successfully more of the enemy riders and their front line. Now the enemy was somewhat diminished. It was time to..."Charge!" - That was the order the soldiers were waiting for. The men by foot stood up and ran, the archers moved to the side now trying to encircle the men in battle to have a better position and a perfect view from outside the battle field.

Prince Alasther and the officers charged to. They met the enemy riders amongst the frontal lines of each army. It was a brutal combat. The swords swung over and through the men on the floor and on horse. There were dismembered and beheaded corpses everywhere. The snow was not white anymore. Dozens of men were dying. Men were covered in blood and sweat.

The Prince was managing very well on top of his horse, swinging his and killing with his skills lots of enemy soldiers and leaving dismembered bodies behind his galloping. Suddenly an arrow reached his horse, making both beast and prince tumble down on the ground. The King of Cadocia noticed the prince's falling. He charged furiously towards Alasther, who was on the snowy floor trying to stand up. Alasther was still confounded with the fall and was giving his back to the approaching ire king that was aiming his sword against him. The prince turned to see just a few inches away a mad king who was going to stab his sword in his chest.

All of a sudden the prince was pushed aside. He was again on the floor... unharmed... His eyes wide open in fear as he saw how Maik was standing in the place of Prince Alasther with the sword buried in his core.
Red thick liquid was coming out from the wound and from Maik's mouth. Lady Katharina's father couldn't believe he missed this chance to kill the man who humiliated her daughter. Some fool loyal suicidal soldier took the stupid Prince's place. Alasther promptly stood up before the king could react, swung his sword and with one single movement, beheaded the king. His body fell one side and the head by the corpse's feet, still with his eyes wide open, the veins spilled blood and stained the snow.

Maik was also on the floor. He was badly injured, losing lots of blood.

-"Healers! Healers!"- The prince screamed as he held Maik's head. -"Stay with me Maik, stay..."- Maik was now breathing with difficulty and coughing blood. Maik managed to talk in his evident agony.

-"Make her happy..."

-"You know I will... Maik, no... you need to stay with me... I promised Am you would return alive and I will keep that promise. You need to come back or else..."- Now the prince's eyes watered and his voice was broken.
He tore one of his sleeve and tried to press Maik's terrible wound.

The healers promptly arrived. Maik was fighting for surviving as he repeated constantly to the prince: "Promise you will make her happy." - The prince nodded as he urged Maik to stay alive.

Maik was carried immediately to the infirmary tent to treat the severe injure he received. In the outside, the soldiers were celebrating their victory over the Cadocia Army. Their king was killed and the few demoralized soldiers left fled beyond the hills back to their kingdom. The Abhainn army had won... But the prince was not in the mood of celebrating.