Forgotten Stories

Elsirn of the White Vale

The sun was covered by the dust coming up from the battlefield. Only a handful of rays could pass through the thick cloud that had enveloped men in their most savage hour. The sound of steel clashing and the screams was the only sound there was. A symphony of desperation, suffering, despair and fear filled the ears of every man and woman on the battlefield.

Deep inside the heart of the battle, a large circled had been formed, soldiers from either side had stopped battling and instead watched screaming as their two leaders were clashing words and ideals. From one side it was Destrix a large muscled man holding a giant battle axe almost as tall as he was, swinging it violently towards his opponent, Commander Elsirn of the White Vale. "Give up you scrawny little man; you can't be serious of hoping to defeat me" Destrix snarled at his opponent and with a heavy swing he send Elsirn flying back from the force. Elsirn didn't answer instead he produced his katana towards Destrix and launched another attack. As the large man swung his battle axe one more Elsirn smaller and more agile avoided the attack and managed to slice through Destrix' left rib. The huge man let out scream at started swinging his weapon in such force that made it difficult for Elsirn to block let alone escape from the large man's tornado of attacks. Suddenly Destrix stopped his maniacal onslaught and kicked Elsirn in the stomach making him stumble and fall down.

The men around them cheered chanting in unison "Kill him, kill him". Destrix came closer to his fallen opponent and raised his battle axe ready for the final blow, then in the heat of the moment and the chanting of his men he felt as if spikes were thrown inside his eyes, he stumble back roaring in pain. Elsirn had thrown him dirt in his eyes. He tried attacking Destrix as he was blinded but the violent swinging of his axe from left to right and back again made it hard approaching him.

Elsirn finally found an opening and attacked but with blurred vision Destrix managed to grab him by the throat and picked him up with one hand. Barely able to see he shouted at Elsirn: "You can't escape me now" he snarled and swung his axe vertically aiming for Elsirn's right side but before the blade of the axe could chop the small man alive he blocked it with his hand and plunged his blade on Destrix' throat. Destrix let go of Elsirn who hit the ground hard and stumbled back chocking. Blood was exiting his throat despite his attempt to cover the wound. Elsirn stood up holding his almost destroyed hand between his arm and torso. He picked up Destrix' battle axe, raised it above his head and brought it down with such force that chopped the large man almost in two halves.

Everyone around stood silent as the man who was more likely to die in such encounter was standing and the brute that was barely human laid dead and his body desecrated on the bloody ground. "Your leader is dead" Elsirn shouted at the man. Little by little the sound of steel clashing and the screams started to fade out. After a while only the wind could be heard and some clunking from the armor of men moving. "Now wolves with no leader, what shall you do, abandon your nature and run to the hills? Or stay true to your bloody appetite and join my army? I promise you that if you come with me you won't be left without a battle and together we will conquer even the gods themselves" Elsirn screamed at the top of his lungs and everyone around him whether it was from his army or the enemy roared cheerfully and produced their weapons towards the sky. One man from the opposite faction came closer out of the horde of men surrounding him. "You are indeed brave and strong, we shall follow you to the deepest pits of hells if you command us" the man said and knelt before him, one by one Destrix' followers did the same. Seeing this, a wicked smile came in Elsirn's face.

A crow landed on the edge of the window and the princess handmaiden grabbed it and detached the message from its legs. He rolled it open and carried the words to her mistress. "My love, the expedition on the north parts Altesia has come to an end, the mighty tyrant Destrix fell by my blade, it won't be long till we are both in each other's arms, yours sincerely Elsirn". The princess fell back on her bed closing her eyes and daydreamed about her beloved coming back triumphant "Is this happiness I feel" she remarked. The handmaiden sighed on her princess's childlike attitude and cleared her throat making the young woman come back to her senses. "We should prepare a feast for his return" the princess exclaimed and bolted out her room to find the chefs.

The days passed and the whole city was decorated with white and blue flags, the roads were cleaned and the white marble was shining bright into the sun. The peasants happy from the news that their north barbarian enemies were gone forever worked cheerfully, some of them even sang. The kids were chasing each other and the laughter filled the streets with joy, the passerby that saw them smiled and remembered when they were young as well. In the castle everyone was on high alert, the princess wanted it to be clean and neat for when her beloved would return. As a cruel mistress she ordered the staff relentlessly, if it wasn't for her sweet young voice and cute face someone would say she was a hard taskmaster ordering around slaves, but everyone knew about her love for Elsirn that no one dared to spoil her happiness even if it meant carrying a fourth set of flags to decorate the palace.

The king proud of his warrior's prowess in battle and the outcome was on the top of the palace with his wife and look down as the servants helped clean and make the palace even more beautiful. "She is head over hills for Elsirn" the queen said. The king sipped from his cup of tea and laughed wholeheartedly. "He is a good man Myra, it's a blessing our daughter is in love with such a man" the king said happily. Queen Myra nodded and they both drunk their tea in silence watching over the horizon.

Elsirn and his army reached the city and the sight they witnessed was horrific. The walls had crumble down, and the corpses of men squished underneath the heavy rock made the place reek of death. Elsirn jumped on his horse and rode as quick as he could towards the palace. Passing through the city the sights grew ever more horrible. The roads were destroyed, the houses collapsed, men and women slaughtered on the roads, their corpses left to decorate a once proud and lively city into a hellish sight.

Elsirn arrived at the palace. He jumped off his horse and drew his blade. He saw an otherworldly creature amidst the rumbles eating a corpse. When he looked closer horror and dread filled him, it was his beloved princess. In an instant he attacked and decapitated the monster who was too busy eating to notice him. After the monster fell dead, he let the sword go from his arms and kneeled down. He held the princess pale and blooded corpse in his arms and shriek in terror and despair. His pain was so great that the shouting echoed throughout the ruins of the city.

Then the whole ground began to shake as a giant black dragon landed atop the destroyed palace. Its wings massive and black as the deep night, his eyes were burning red and from his mouth smoke was dancing like a snake towards the sky. "Another human?" the dragon said in a heavy voice that made Elsirn tremble. "And you look like to have a connection to the princess no less" the dragon continued "Tell me human, who are you?" Elsirn let the dead body of his beloved on the ground and stood up picking his blade. "I am Elsirn" his voice both angry and trembling with fear. "Are you angry human that I destroyed this place?" the dragon said in a proud voice. Elsirn look at the dragon, all the hate he felt wanted him to drive his blade into the dragon's heart but fear had gripped his feet. "Yes" Elsirn shouted. The dragon laughed loudly, "Then perhaps you should say your goodbyes then she no longer coming back" it taunted Elsirn which he forgot all about his fear and charged at the dragon. The mighty lizard jump down from the palace and whipped Elsirn with its tail sending him crushing on a wall.

With broken bones and a dead love Elsirn tried getting up but the damage was severe, he knew that in a few moments he would be dead. "Now let me tell you something human. In your final hours you witnessed your city and your beloved grasped by the claws of death and destruction. He fought bravely to kill the mighty Destrix but you were still unable to hold up against me. You know why that happened?" Elsirn tried to answer but blood filled his lungs and coughed violently. "You couldn't defeat me because I was the harbinger of your destruction, you brought this upon yourself when you and your men laid waste on my nest and destroyed my eggs. In your hunt for glory and battle you killed the unborn children of a dragon and a black one at that. So as you fade away into nothingness know that all these could have been avoided if you just simply marched on away from my lair. The death of everyone in this city including your loved one is in your hands. Actions have consequences you little pitiful and unimportant human worm. You took away my happiness I robed away yours and thus the scale of destiny is again balanced" the dragon finished and opened its large wings that covered the sky and flew away.

Elsirn thought of all the things the dragon said. On the distance he heard loud screams as the dragon burned his men alive. He wanted to stand up, creep closer to the corpse of his beloved but his body was totally paralyzed. Soon his vision started to blur until he couldn't see anymore. Finally Elsirn of the White vale drew his last breath.