The Fallen Citadel pt 6

FC 6

We swung into action, Freya and Elindresh firing off ranged attacks while Jonah and Minerva guarded them. Harold, Borgan and I took to the frontlines. I slashed my way through the demons Julianus summoned and he continued to laugh “Yes come cockroaches come let me squish you”. It seemed his magical shield was impenetrable, but there had to be a way. It was in that moment I remembered something very important Evandria had told me in that cave.

An elven weapon forged in their magics would be strong enough to break his shield. But no such weapon existed or so I thought. Evandria had made her way to us with a sword, the kings sword. A sword that had been passed down for generations, and was forged by the elves during the days of peace as a show of friendship. However, unknown to us the sword had to be activated by elven royal blood. Evandria pricked her thumb and dragged it along the blade, and it began to glow. Its name was Galantine and it was the key to killing Julianus once and for all.

She placed the sword in my care, and fell to her knees exhausted. The sword’s glow was getting brighter and brighter as I held it. I taunted Julianus “You are the true scum Julianus and you are nothing but a coward hiding behind your magics and your demons”. “Come and face me like a true king, like our king did”. He replied with anger in his voice “You dare taunt me, you lowly human I will enjoy taking your head and making an example of you”. He summoned a dark blade out of the nether, and attacked. He was like lightning when he struck, my shield barely reaching in time.

As I began to get in the rhythm of his moves, I noticed a blind spot of his. A blind spot I could easily expose and I told Harold to buy me some time. I ran over to Borgan and asked if he could blind Julianus for a moment that’s all I needed. He grabbed some powder from his leather pouch and said “you got it boss”. With Harold at the helm Borgan managed to sneak behind Julianus and blow the powder directly at him followed by a cloud of smoke. I let my sword guide me, and I used Viper, the sword flew through the smoke and found its mark in Julianus.

When the smoke cleared, I realized my mistake; I had been so caught up in my bloodthirst that I didn’t see what Julianus was doing. I pulled my sword out of him, and swiftly cut off his head, but Harold had paid the price. Julianus had taken advantage of the smoke as well to plunge his sword into Harold. I had won, but at what cost.

I held Harold as he lay dying, coughing up blood trying to speak. He managed to softly smile and say this “Don’t doubt yourself, you made the right choice, I should have known better”. “You were a great leader and I truly had fun adventuring with all of you, I have no regrets”. Bless Borgan because he didn’t make a stupid comment all he had to say was “it was a pleasure serving with you chief” and sat down beside him. I fell to my knees in tears, I had become so consumed with getting revenge I let my men die around me.

I wanted a worthy opponent so bad I was blinded by it, and Harold died because of it. Harold was the worthiest of them all. I just never got to tell him that. Evandria raised the head of Julianus and screamed “We have bested the dark King, that massacred my people and we have avenged our families”. The remaining forces of his army were already beginning to scatter in every direction as our armies cheered. There was only one thing left to do.

Among those bloodstained fields we buried our dead. The King and Harold were brought home in a funeral procession to receive special honors and we were received by our resilient citizens. The King’s Son Artorius was crowned, and he buried his father in the royal crypts. In recognition of Harolds outstanding loyalty, and unwavering courage, he was granted burial next to the King whom he had served for generations.

I knelt before my new King, and offered him the blade of his father, Galantine. He took the sword in his hand and raised it high in the air then said this. “My father died in battle against the dark king, but his sword prevailed even through the darkness, it became the light”. “Today we honor the fallen, and we mourn for our lost family members, our friends, the heroes who stood against evil and triumphed”. The room cheered and he took a step back and sat down in his father's throne. The mantle of King fit him well, and he wore it proudly.

I was hailed as the hero of the battle, but I didn’t feel like the hero. I was given the position Harold had kept for decades, the right hand of the king and his protector. I didn’t know if I could ever fill his shoes, but I was going to spend the rest of my life trying to, in honor of his bravery and friendship. Freya and Elindresh were give many accolades as well and riches beyond compare. Borgan was just happy he got to participate, but gold didn’t hurt. Jonah and Minerva were promoted to the rank of Captain and given their own units.

I was proud to call them my friends, and I was thankful that they survived through hell and back with me. We took the time to visit Harolds grave together after the ceremony and we cried together. We honored the man we had called friend, mentor, and leader. Even if I was the one in charge it didn’t feel that way compared to his experience and wisdom. He made me the leader I was and above all he was kind. He sacrificed himself for the greater good knowing that someone had to distract the dark king, and I believe in that moment he was prepared to die, after losing his King, he was ready.

I was finally ready to settle down with a woman after only knowing war for so long. I needed that peace and it was hard earned at that. I married after 2 years to a woman named Daisy, who I had met during my days patrolling the city. She was there the night I held the gate as they escaped into the inner walls and she told me she fell in love with me that night. To her I shined brighter than the darkness around us that night and every day since. I was blessed with a child who inherited my light, and in honor of my friend I named him Harold with the permission of my wife. He was strong and kind just like Harold had been to us.

Freya eventually found a man as well, and she learned to bathe while back in the city. She ended up retiring her bow and her position in the guard to raise 3 crazy Amazonian daughters. Borgan became her babysitter of all things; even the children were still bigger than Borgan was. As for Elindresh he returned to Evandria to help rebuild their kingdom, and help their people pick up the pieces. They fell in love with one another over their bond together during their days spent adventuring and then in war. They were blessed with 2 half elves, half human children and we maintained good relations with their new kingdom.

Now for my favorite part of the story, my two soldiers, my lieutenants who survived through thick and thin with me admitted their feelings for one another. Jonah married Minerva shortly after the birth of Harold. I couldn’t have been happier for them. They chose to wait to have children and to focus on their careers for the time being. They helped rebuild the city, rebuild our army and train them. Life returned to normal for everyone in Toko but we still carried with us the scars of those nights and the moments we spent in battle.

I'll never forget how I felt those months we spent in those wheatfields adventuring and having fun. I can never forget the bonds I made with comrades, my brothers and sisters at arms. Above all I'll never forget the debt I owe to Harold. We won because of him, and his sacrifice. Those nights in the fallen citadel were some of the worst nights of my life followed by some of the greatest moments I'll ever have. Love triumphed on the field that day, not hate, not my bloodlust, not our revenge, but love. The love we had for one another and the bonds that can never be broken even in death.