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Descriptive Contest Entry

A Warrior's Sacrifice

Rain pelts my weary body, washing away the dirt and blood that covers my tunic. I thrust my sword into my enemy's stomach, watching with grim satisfaction as he crumples onto the ground. I quickly scan the once dry, barren valley that has now become a pit of mud, a burial ground for the fallen. Our enemy outnumbers us, but if we can hold out for just a little longer until reinforcements arrive, we can win. All around me are men locked in fierce combat. I see many of our enemies being cut down, but we our losing just as many.

I grip the hilt of my sword tighter in my hand. The sudden downpour has made it difficult for me to keep ahold of my weapon, but if I let it go I will surely die. I see one of my fellow warriors go down and set my jaw in anger. I raise my sword, ready to avenge the man who'd given his life for our people, but before I can move something collides with my back and becomes embedded in my shoulder. I stumble and plant my feet as best as I can in the thick, slippery ground, I can't lose my footing, not if I want to live.

Shock is all I feel at first, the pain follows after I reach my hand up to feel where I have been struck. My hand comes into contact with something wet, and strangely, warm.
Blood.
I feel around my wounded shoulder until my fingers wrap around something long and thick, an arrow shaft. I have been shot. I barely have time to register that it had happened before an enemy charges as me, weapon raised and shouting in rage.

Mustering my strength and ignoring the searing pain in my shoulders I clutch my sword and prepare to defend myself. When our weapons collide I'm pushed back, my opponet sees that I'm wounded and is looking to finish me off quickly. I will not give him that satisfaction. I grit my teeth and stand my ground. The rain washes dirt into my eyes and I quickly wipe it away. When he charges at me again I feint to the left, just in time to catch him on the side with my sword.

He growls in pain and whips around, the look in his eyes reminds me of a wolf who is about to finish off its prey. Still I do not falter as he charges at me again, this time I do not dodge his attack and I face him straight on. Gripping my sword with both hands I parry the blow and manage to throw him off balance. I ignore the burning in my shoulder and the blood that is slowly seeping out of my body.
He goes in to strike again and this time instead of defending myself, I twist my body to the right and thrust my sword into his side. He drops his weapon and slumps onto his knees. I push him aside and watch as he takes his final, shuddering breaths.

My small victory came with a price though, when I stabbed him he had managed to slice a large gash in my arm. Not fatal, but it would hinder my movments. I stagger forward a few feet, my breathing comes out in ragged gasps that can barely be heard over the din of the storm. My tired eyes search the battle field for any of my allies, anyone who could offer me protection in my weakened state.

That's when I see a small group of men fighting together, holding off the enemy. If I can get to them, I'll have protection until the reinforcements arrive. As quickly as I can without aggravating my injuries, I stagger through the mud that threatens to pull me onto the ground.

The warriors are within reach, I'm almost there. A cry reaches my ears and a sick feeling enters my stomach. I turn my head towards the direction of the voice and see my king, my leader, surrounded by the enemy. If he falls, everything we have been fighting for will be for nothing.

If I go to aid him, I will be handing my life over to death, if I don't, then I will be handing it to guilt. I adjust my grip on my sword and push my body beyond its limits to reach my king. He is only a few feet away, I can reach him in time. A dull *thump* enters my ears as my body jerks . My sword falls from my hand and I collapse onto my hands and knees.

I gasp and struggle to catch my breath, I don't have to look to know that I've been shot with another arrow. I cough and blood falls from my mouth, my arms, especially my wounded one, tremble as I lift my head up to where my king still fights. He is still surrounded, and no one is close enough to help him.

Except me. I shudder as I struggle to stand. The mud seems to be holding onto me, trying to pull my body into the earth, where it will never resurface. As much as I desire to sink into the earth and allow my pain to be taken away, I can't. Not until I fufill my duty to my king. To my home, the people I swore to protect.

I retrieve my fallen sword from the mud and use it to support myself as I stand. I sway for just a moment before regaining my balance, then I run. Every movement send a wave of agony through my body, but I don't stop. When I reach the enemies that dare attack my king I'm unaware as I cut them down. I knew in my heart that I wouldn't be able to last long against them, and my assumption was proven true as cruel steel plunges into my abdomen.

I release my sword and finally allow my body to fall, to surrender to the darkness that keeps dancing at the edge of my vision. As I take my last breaths I hear a horn blowing in the distance, the reinforcements have come. I smile weakly as shouts of victory echo through the air.

We won.

A figure kneels down beside me, and as my vision fades I can barely make out who it is that takes my hand in their's.
"Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Rest in peace now, brave warrior."

Taking their words to heart, I close my eyes, let go, and slip from the world and into the peaceful darkness.

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Ithildaeforever

BananaBam03

GadSul

Total words: 1,110
(I hope it's ok that I went over just a bit, I tried to keep it inside the word limit)