The Tide of Total War

Golden Necklace

Marcus woke up to a bright, nice day. He walked down to the city and met the army and his friends calming down some civilians, but most were fine with the new change.

"Hello my friends!" Said Marcus, arms up towards Gottfried, Beowulf, Dalina, Thylrrim, Alrim, Irvin, Keenum, and Vallora.

"Hey Marcus my friend!" Replied Gottfried as he left the group of the army.

"Marcus, I can't believe we actually did it. When I first met you, I thought you were just another pompous man." Said both Thylrrim and Dalina,

"Yes. Those were simpler times.. Wasn't it?' Responded Marcus, looking back.

"You changed my life in many more ways than you could think Marcus. Just remember that." Said Irvin, with a grand smile. The first time Marcus has seen that from him.

"Oh, have you heard! Thylrrim and Dalina are getting married!" Yelled Keenum, running up to the group.

"What!? Really!?" Said Marcus, shocked.

"Yes, it's true. We were going to keep it a little bit to surprise you, but i guess not." Said Dalina smiling and looking at Keenum.

Marcus knew this wasn't the end, of course it wasn't, this was just a drop in a bucket compared what they have facing against them next. But it was fine to let everyone celebrate and be happy while they have it.

At the corner of Marcus's eye, he could see Vallora walk away and leave the castle. Marcus walked away from the group, bidding them farewell for now. He ran out of the castle, chasing after Vallora, her red hair shining in the sun. The grass plains all around him.

"Wait!! Where are you going Vallora!?" Cried out Marcus, running after Vallora.

"Leave!" Yelled Vallora, walking faster.

"What!? Whats the matter?!" asked out Marcus, running faster.

"Nothing!! Just leave!!"

Marcus caught up and looked at Vallora.

"What is it!?" Said Marcus

"It's James!! Ok!! Does that help you!?" Yelled Vallora, starting to stomp off again.

Marcus remembered. But, he knew why he did it. Marcus knows the feeling James had there.

"Vallora, he did it on purpose.. Well, not like that, but. He wanted to avenge his mother Vallora!" Yelled Marcus.

Vallora stopped, arms flexing in anger. Marcus didn't step too close to her.

"Look, I was going to help him, heal him even. But he begged us not to. I know what he was doing, I have went through something like that before." Said Marcus, "I saw him smile and look up as he passed away. It was for the best to him."

Vallora stood still. Only the head moving.

"Just.... Let me go..." Begged Vallora as she continued to run away from him.

Marcus hesitated a little, raised his hand. Shook his head, and headed back to the castle. He took his time, thinking what James was really like. He never really knew him.

He knew he couldn't help her, he knew nothing WOULD help her, but it racked his mind about any solution to it. He collapsed on a wooden chair, hid head down as everyone else crowded him, dancing and drinking. He shook his head and walked back up to the castle where he last saw him. He was a man trained to never show emotion, but he still had honor. He saw the lifeless corpse as he stumbled through the giant wooden gates. He ignored the stench of what seemed like leftovers tossed out onto the grass and left for days and picked up the husk of what to be a man. His nose burned at such a fowl stench that, as a king, has never had the displeasure of smelling. Moments later of marching out the castle, through a path that didn't disrupt anyone else's day, so they can at least feel joy that he wont be able to feel this day.

He soon laid down the ghost down onto the dry, bright green grass, quite a few meters away from the large town and castle. He stared at him for several minutes until spotting a shine sparkling at his blue eyes. He curled two fingers around the small object. Marcus pulled out a golden necklace with a heart shaped at the center, he detached the lock and the dazzling golden heart popped open.

What was planted there was a small drawing of Vallora, Beowulf with a woman in dark crimson hair beside him, with James at the side of the three of them. They were all smiling. As he was gazing into the drawing, Marcus heard footsteps toward his direction. He quickly rose his head to see a woman there.

"You've finally decided to pay some respect now huh." Spoke the woman, looming over Marcus.

"Vallora.." He nudged his knees towards her way, "I'm.. I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to be disrespectful, I just.. I just got sidetracked. I'm sorry I didn't know James better."

Vallora sighed as she knelt beside him "I know... I know"

They both knelt there gazing at the husk sprawled in front of them. They both stayed there for hours, from the sun shining bright through the sky, to the deep dark sinking around them and the corpse. Neither of them talked. There was no need for talk.

Eventually Vallora broke the lurking ghost of silence, "You don't have to be here Marcus"

"I don't care. We wouldn't have had taken this place with so little bloodshed of the ones I already knew if it wasn't for his help..And... He was the only one brave enough to do so." Replied Marcus, his voice cracking a little at the end. Knowing his own cowardliness and remembering his regrets back home. A teardrop leaked out of his right eye as it shone bright to the full moon. Vallora looked over to Marcus, her hair whipping around slightly.

"..Thank you... Thank you for everything." Chocked out Vallora as she laid her hand on his.

They both closed their eyes and knelt there the rest of the night, the darkness consuming both of them.

(To Be Continued with Book 2)