Legends: The Knight of Helm (#1)

Chapter 24

Almorah wiped the tear from her eyes as blinked to hide away her sorrow. Cladius was most likely dead. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. The heavy hand of Prince, now King Henry rested on her shoulder as he spoke.

"Is this fair lady well?" He questioned.

It had been a month sense Cladius had been seen last. While Almorah was not blind, and could see the quit fair Henry of the East, she knew that he didn't hold the same place as Cladius did. Cladius had been her mentor, but it evolved from a simple teacher student, to something more. It was obvious that he liked her from the beginning, from her point of view, and she always thought him handsome herself. She doubted his abilities when they had first meet, but she know knew that not even General Nerus stood a chance against Cladius's blade. He was the strongest knight she had ever seen, it was a wonder he didn't have more fame to his name.

"Yes, quite well, thank you my lord." Almorah replied.

"Almorah," Henry replied, "It is simply Henry."

"My lord, I do not dare." Almorah replied trying to be subtle about the way she felt, she still believe him the fault of Cladius's demise.

"I insist." Henry replied, his heart taken from him.

"I cannot, my lord. I have one on my mind already. It would be vain and inappropriate" Almorah replied.

The king simply let his head fall in defeat. Of all the woman he had wooed, it seemed she would be the most difficult. She held true, to the one she loved, Henry had his assumptions of whom, but he kept such thoughts only to himself. He slowly continued onward towards the small fort. They were to take hold of it. The King of Dechoneus felt confident in their victory, so much so that he went there himself, against his advisers' council. Besides his own confidence in this battle, Henry believed it his duty to fight along his people, despite the many advices he had received otherwise, though none could argue, for every man was indeed needed.

Each man stopped in his march as King Henry walked forward, before the siege began. He could see the men from the west gathered on the walls he now looked upon. He cleared his throat ready to speak. The eve of battle was here, it was so thick; it was as if it could be smelt in the air. The heart of every man raced like that of a sprinting horse.

"Give up this fort now, or face death." Henry spoke loudly.

A man stepped forward, speaking with boldness, "You have no honor, which was exemplified in your choices previous of this advent. If you cannot honor your father's fight between our lord Volohs, then you cannot trust any word you give us now. So we will die if the battle is decided as such."

"Very well, I hope I find your face in the mud." Henry replied, as men around him quickly began placing ladders against the walls.

Almorah drew her blade about to rush forward as a hand caught her wrist. She halted looked into the man's eyes. It was King Henry, holder her back.

"Almorah, you should stay here with me, there is no need for you to fight." Henry spoke softly, but loud enough to hear over the now fighting men.

"I'm not a child; I know the art of battle. Do not try to stop me." Almorah replied, tarring her arm away from the man's grasp.

She quickly ducked, as an arrow flew by her shoulder, taking her gaze away from Henry's eyes. The king raised his shield taking an arrow, and then quickly placed his helmet over his head. Almorah charged forward towards the ladders, before they could be burned or cut down. Henry just simply continued walking towards the front gate leading his battalions one by one, giving them orders, to make the siege a success.