Vain: Upon An Hours Rest

Chapter 18: The Final Battle

          The air is crisp almost kind of cold. I'm arrayed in the most beautiful armor I've ever worn. I'm leading an army of eighteen thousand men, women, elves, dwarfs, trained knights and soldiers. I spend the entire march praying. My hand itches for battle. I pray God doesn't allow me to be knocked out for most of it this time! Blood rushes through my body, and a common feeling courses through my veins. It's the dread of a battle, but the anticipation for victory, and a win! We can see the castle ahead and with the hour massive amounts of soldiers leaving the city gates. The city is divided into two parts. East and West Ardougne. The Castle itself is in the east part, and no one really knows what is to the west besides the main entrance to the underground pass. After another hour of marching and men getting to their stations. The elves are right behind me, Daniel and the Captain in a straight row. Im just in front of Daniel and the Captain. The rest of the soldiers are behind us. Ragens forces gather and if I had to have my guess, are headed by his general and not himself, the coward. His soldiers, trained and obviously ready for this situation, are outside the walls and prepared by the time we are. I turn and look at Daniel.

          "Guess there's going to be no sieges today"

          "No father, and they shall taste defeat." With that he raises his sword which is the signal for the archers to begin launching as many volleys as they can before we charge. The archers aren't being vary effective at such a long range but men all over the field still go down. Arrows begin flying toward us as well but with Shields raised it dose little to nothing as well.

          "Daniel, the walls are well guarded by archers," says Captain Atar. "Order the archers to focus on the walls!" He rides off to carry the order and then returns. After one last silent prayer, besides the continuous prayer that always goes through my heart, I lift up a flag with a cross on it. I scream, "GOD IS WITH US! CHAAARGE!" With that I slam down the flag into the ground and grab my shield and one sword and run as fast as I can towards the enemy. I don't really like useing a shield, but it's needed. They charge as well and our forces meet. My shield goes up and my sword starts swinging. First my left then my right. Enemy blows rain down on my shield left and right. God has to be with me or id be dead by now. Blood stain all over my armor, I continue swinging. I see Daniel right behind me covering my back. Then I see something terrifying. The Ironclad come out of nowhere and begin flanking us. From the other side of the city they come at our eastern flank. I know we weren't expecting this. Sword classes with sword. i get punched in the chest and then in the face. Pain stabs through my jaw as I Know something is wrong.

          "Daniel!" I scream. "Daniel! We cant beat the Ironclad if they make it to our flank, we need to retreat wile we still can!"

          "No!"

          "We have to!"

          "No, we HAVE to win this!"

          "Daniel if your to be king make a hard decision without me making it for you!"

          With that he screams, "Retreat to Camelot! Fall back! FALL BACK!"

          He leads the retreat and grabs the flag out of the ground and starts running back towards Camelot. The Ironclad meet our force and kill many before they can run. I look back and see the killing field, littered with blood and bodies. I can see in the distance past the soldiers chasing us, soldiers stabbing dead the wounded. Hours later we make it back to Camelot, People at the gates immediately begin counting trying to see the number of our army. The people look decimated. Tired and Weary. We thought we were going to win. But we were beaten back. Daniel calls a counsel of the Temple Knights.