The March of Four Armies
t was the second week after the duel between Drinn and Vibac, a company of ten sat around a circular table in the lovely veranda of Hywel castle. They gathered to confer of the coming war against Amarash, and among the group were Drinn, King Mathias, Reginleif, Eanna, Halvene and his father Ecklaer, King Hilran, General Paaldriid, King Dunates, and Princess Shayna.
“Be it known that King Mathias, not I, is the representative of Hywel.” Drinn remarked. “Though I appeared to some of you highly, still I am under the authority of King Mathias.”
“He is the one who gathered us all here, and he’ll be the host of the meeting.”
“Aye, we fully understand that Drinn.” King Hilran answered nodding, his beard neatly trimmed and groomed.
Leaning from his chair King Mathias bend forward on the table, elegant, yet his appearance shows a bit gray, in all accounts. “I am humbled that you all come here for this important assembly.” King Mathias started. “My daughter Princess Meyah has been held captive of Vibac, and I as the King of Hywel with all humility ask of your aid.”
“I know that this thing I’m asking is a serious matter and is surely a great deal. You may speak for yourselves if you are with Hywel on this war or not.”
“Aye, we dwarves’re certainly in aid of Hywel.” King Hilran said “If not for Drinn, Duin Hall might’ve laid ruined by now. En perhaps I meself the dwarf king of Duin Hall is not here in this assembly. If I owe me life from one Hywelian, then I owe me life for all the Hywelians.”
“You may expect us dwarves on this war with those stinkin’ Amarashans King Mathias.”
“Quariumorans are always ready for a war.” said King Dunates who was in front of the dwarf king, on the other side of the table. “And this might be the end of Vibac. The prophecy is all occurring. The White Warrior is in behalf of us.”
“The elves of Vennashan will be in aid, whatever it is, if it is to wipe out the Amarashans in Neriwonda.” said Ecklaer.
“Be it known that I’m not against this war.” Reginleif stated, he looked at Drinn and said. “But If I may ask the Chosen One, does Quinlan have a word about this war? It is a suicide to go and wage war in the territory of Vibac without the consent of Quinlan.”
Drinn replied “Quinlan is silent these past few weeks. And I can’t guarantee the success of this war Reginleif.”
“We must wait for Quinlan’s word before we march on Amarash.” Reginleif suggested.
“If I may speak,” interrupted Princess Shayna, “Quinlan may have no word at all, but we as Neriwonians can’t stay safe in our lands while the life of Princess Meyah is in great danger.”
“I agree with the Quariumoran Princess.” said Halvene.
“I fully understand what the aderyn points out.” said King Dunates. “I suggest that we start to prepare for the war, and wait for three more days if Quinlan would give Drinn any word. Then if three days had passed without a word, we will head towards Amarash.”
“I guess that settles it.” Reginleif said.
“Then three days from now, our armies will meet here in Hywel.” said King Mathias. “I King Mathias will be in great debt from all of you, may Quinlan be with us.”
Three days without a word from Quinlan, the armies of Hywel, Vennashan, Duin Hall, and Quariumora gathered outside the city of Hywel. Quariumorans, elves, dwarves and men, four different inhabitants towards one purpose, and so, they called it as the March of Four Armies.
Nearly all the men of Hywel joined the war for they need as many soldiers as they could, knowing that the whole host of Amarash was preparing for them. Even Bribble took the courage in joining the war as well as the Three Kitchen Dwarves.
The four armies started to march south early that morning, as the joined sounds of chain mails rang incessantly. The elves of Vennashan were the front liners, and then the Hywelians and Quariumorans, and in the rear were the dwarves of Duin Hall.
“Can I ask you a question Drinn?” Bribble inquired as they marched south.
“Go on Brib?” Drinn replied.
“You’re angry at Quinlan aren’t you?” Bribble said solemnly. “We are best friends and I know you very well. You haven’t talk to Quinlan ever since after the duel.”
Drinn answered not and kept his stare at the long road ahead. “You cannot deny it to me Drinn.” Bribble continued. “Do not harden your heart. You have to inquire of him.”
“He did leave me on the fight Brib.” Drinn answered with riled-looking eyes and then he hurtled his horse to get away from the conversation.
It was the second day and the suns were already sinking on the western horizon, the black mountains of Amarash roused higher and higher when the road bends south east as they get nearer on Amarash. Soon they were beside the ocean as the road bends sharp turning west, and far ahead about a half day march was Trollmorloom. And so they agreed to set their camps and continue the march early next day.
They reached Trollmorloom at the exact time they planned. It was a place unfamiliar to all of them for there were no Neriwonians who ever tried to reach that place. From there the clouds were thick and gray. The land was filled with grass that reaches up to their knees, and to their both sides were elevated lands filled with wooden huts and trees.
Knowing that they were entering the enemy’s territory they set their weapons ready.
“From the name of the place, I assumed you know what we are to face here?” Ecklaer said to his elven companions. “Aim your arrows above!” Then two elven horsemen holding a torch from each side of the long line of the elves hurtled, lighting up the aiming arrows with fire.
“Steady!” Ecklaer commanded.
Silence surrounded the place as they wait for their foes to come out. A few minutes after, disturbed birds went flying out from each side of the elevated grounds, as the running sounds and beastly howl gradually filled the air.
“Fire!” Ecklaer shouted. Arrows came whistling, raining down on the elevated grounds, while a large number of trolls and werewolves came rushing down from each side.
“Draw your weapons!” shouted King Mathias.
The flaming arrows lessened the coming of the beasts but there were loads of them, the place started to be filled with bursting wails, shouts, and battle cries. Almost immediately, the battleground was mixed with clashing men, trolls, elves, dwarves, werewolves, and Quariumorans.
Drinn pulled his new sword from the sheath, and the hilt on his hands felt unusual to him. A werewolf was moving towards him as he gazed at the blade as if he was expecting to found a mark on it. Unexpectedly, Drinn was surprise that the werewolf was a few steps in front of him for he was looking intently at the blade. The werewolf crouched as it snarls with dark eyes weighing Drinn’s pose and then it began to leap at him, while Drinn, even without the Blade of Quinlan still proved his speed as he swiftly slashed the werewolf with a sidelong swipe and the werewolf howled rolling fiercely on the ground. Just as he turned his attention towards the rushing enemies another werewolf leap on him, Drinn turned right with speed spinning clockwise, his sword humming as he moved and the blade lacerated the werewolf’s fury back. Almost immediately two simultaneous wails came next to him; Drinn turned quickly and found Princess Shayna beside him with two short blood-spattered swords. Two werewolves were lying dead on the ground.
“Those two werewolves almost got you Drinn!” said Princess Shayna. She glanced at Drinn smiling and looked at the rushing foes. “Here’s another batch of them coming!”
“Loads I think.” Drinn replied.
Drinn and Princess Shayna fought side by side moving as one with unbreakable defense, then King Dunates, King Mathias, Ganhywn, and Eliour joined them that strengthened their defense more on the right side of the assault.
On the other side of the battle, the front liners were Reginleif, Eanna, Ecklaer, Halvene, Sereelien, King Hilran, and General Paaldriid, while Brinsop was eventful, hovering above the clashing war breathing out fire on the helpless trolls and werewolves.
Soon the Amarashans lessened their number, and Brinsop was a lot of advantage to them. The remaining trolls and werewolves ran for their lives as the four armies shouted a victory cry. But still about one fourth of them passed away and many were terribly wounded.
It was six in the afternoon and the dwarves once again sang a dwarven victory song. There was a big bonfire in the middle of the field as some dwarves, men, and Quariumorans danced in celebration of the battle they won.
“Is there something wrong?” Drinn inquired of Halvene as he approached the grave elf. Drinn quickly learned of the ways of Halvene for the little time that they were with, and proved Halvene as a great partner.
“We can’t celebrate yet Drinn.” and as soon as the elf answered a sound of blast came nearby them. A ball of fire exploded near the bonfire. They looked up above and saw four black dragons and a cluster of wyverns coming towards them.
“You’re absolutely right!” Drinn said and they ran for their lives for an upcoming ball of fire was approaching. The ground shook from behind them showering them with dirt and small rocks.
The four armies were in great panic for the surprise attack, the elves were quickly in positioned shooting their arrows, while the dwarves set their dwarven weaponries ready. There were cries everywhere as flames scattered them in the field of Trollmorloom.
“This is what I feared the most!” Eanna said as she and Reginleif ran alongside each other.
“We have no choice.” answered Reginleif. “Brinsop, you and I are the only winged persons here.” He dived forward and his wings spread wide, flapped as he began to soar.
Swift on his flight, he circled once in the air and pulled his sword; he was flying towards a wyvern.
The aderyn glided slowly, he turned his sword holding it upside-down as he focused his attention on the approaching wyvern.
“Come here beast!” he said. And with great speed he kicked himself up in the air, his wings balanced as he moved swiftly to avoid the wyvern. The wyvern exceeded below him and right there and then he forcefully drove his sword on the back of the wyvern.
Reginleif was dragged in the air as the wyvern wailed, whirling and squirming. His hands grabbed the sword’s hilt tighter, using his wings he established himself as his legs clamped at the wyvern’s side.
The wyvern turned wildly in the air trying to dislodge Reginleif but firm were Reginleif’s legs tightly clamped and his hands holding the sword’s hilt. Soon the wyvern began to slow in its gyrations and the aderyn grinned that the beast was finally tiring. He pulled the sword up from the wyvern’s back and then he released his legs, his wings beat in the air and he swiftly slashed the wyvern’s right wing.
Hovering in the air he saw the wyvern crushing down in speed. He turned west and saw two wyverns coming towards him.
“Do I have to do the same thing a dozen times?” he commented himself.
He was stable as he waited for the two wyverns to approach him determined to do the same trick he did with the first wyvern. And then before the wyverns draw near a dragon came, knocking the two wyverns. It was Brinsop, wise as he was, biting the wyverns’ wings as the two beasts fell in the air.
“You cannot attack two wyverns at once master Reginleif.” said Brinsop.
“Get your own opponents Brinsop!” Reginleif answered blowing his own horn again.
Eanna was flying in rapid as two wyverns chased her. She dived in the air and headed for the trees to use as a defense. It was an inch and her feet were chomped by the leading wyvern if not for the trees that blocked the beasts off. She shoots her arrows in the double while the wyverns were having a hard time to break in on the branches of the trees. Still with arrow-filled neck the wyverns break through in the branches and Eanna was again on her wings flying swiftly gliding in the forest. The wyverns were wrestling to steer clear of the trees as Eanna continued to shoot her arrows.
The leading wyvern wailed as a branch of tree thrust on the beast’s body, while the other one still chased her foolishly. Soon enough when the trees were much closer, the wyvern was trapped inside the forest and Eanna leaved the wyverns in the forest.
Just as she came out, she was surprised as a wyvern knocked her, and if not for her bow she was bitten by the monster’s sharp pointed teeth as the wyvern bit her rigid bow, her hands on the edges of her weapon struggling to maintain her distance from the beast. With swift judgment, she threw herself up using the strength of the bow as she spun, so that she came landing on the wyvern’s neck, while her legs quick as it fastened.
Still holding the bow, she pulled it to establish a much tighter hold as the wyvern flew in an unruly way throwing its neck wildly to dislodge her. But not for long, she leaped out of the wyvern’s neck seeing that the hysterical beast was fast as it descends on its flight, and the wyvern crushed, rolling on the ground.
Still, loads of wyverns were scattered in the gray sky of Trollmorloom and Eanna feared that the numbers of the four armies would lessened a great deal even before they could reach Amarash, for she saw that the soldiers were broken up on the field from the terror of the violent wyverns.
A loud familiar roar called her attention and was followed by an unbroken wail as she looked far west. She saw Brinsop struggling to defend himself from the assault of the four black dragons.
“Brinsop!” she cried flying towards the direction of the silver dragon, but even before she reached Brinsop a hand grabbed him tight pulling her close on a firm hold.
“We cannot do anything Eanna!” said Reginleif.
“Let go of me Reg, they will kill Brinsop!” answered the lady aderyn trying to loose herself from Reginleif’s grip, while Reginleif hold Eanna tight not letting go of her, he knew very well that they could do nothing to rescue their dearest dragon friend from the assault of four black dragons.
“We have to retreat, Drinn and Halvene has found a cave in north.” Reginleif said. “The soldiers are heading for the cave’s shelter. We are safer in there.”
The scanty lights of the torches rendered their way through the dark tunnels, as they explored the cave finding a wider chamber where they could mend the wounded, rest, and plan for their next step.
“Is there anyone left alive outside?” King Mathias inquired of the elven leader as they stride on the long narrow tunnel, and good enough, for the wyverns and dragons wouldn’t fit deep inside the cave.
“I guess none except for the Dragon.” answered Ecklaer. “Good thing that there are lots of tunnels, and if not we will all be slaughtered by those ravenous wyverns.”
“Trolls and werewolves live in the caves.” Halvene butt in “That’s why there are lots of them in Trollmorloom. We may expect to find some of them as we ventured in this cave.”
“Where are King Hilran, the Dwarven General, and the two aderyns?” King Mathias asked.
“They are in the other caves.” Drinn answered. “The dwarves are the last ones who vacate the battlefield. I guess Reginleif and Eanna are with them.”
Soon enough they found a much wider chamber and they decided to stay there and mend the wounded. They set some elves to guard the tunnels where they had passed through and some Quariumorans on the surrounding parameters to warn them for an incoming peril.
Drinn was sitting alone far from the group of soldiers with his back leaning on a large rock. He was holding the dove necklace rubbing it with his thumb.
“I constantly catch you holding the necklace.” said a female voice alongside him. Princess Shayna’s white face was speckled with dirt yet beauty was still apparent on her ever smiling face.
“Is it alright if I join you?” she asked.
Drinn looked at her and smiled, he was not used to on seeing the Quariumoran Princess with grime streaked face.
“Of course why should I forbid you?” Drinn answered.
She sat beside Drinn and looked above the relenting darkness of the chamber. She heaved a deep sigh as if trying to release her exhaustion from the battle. “You’re thinking of her isn’t it?” she inquired. I hope to meet her soon. How does she look like?”
Drinn was speechless and just smiled at the question. Although troubled he seemed, the Quariumoran Princess seems to cheered him up.
“Hey White Warrior I’m asking you.” Princess Shayna said. “How does she look like?’
“Poem from a Knight”
You are a gift sent from above
As lovely as a flower, as tender as a dove
My heart beats fast when you’re around
You fill my life with delight and love
Troubles vanish from just a glimpse of your face
Oh how lovely you are in all your ways
Time seem to stop when I see your amiable smile
Beautify with lips as red rose in the first light
Though we seldom see each other
I feel your deep concern; I can feel your care
Because of you, I become a knight
The warrior inside of me you made into life
You thought me how to fight
How to fight for the one I love
And even if I can’t be with you today
I hope these words will embrace you in someway
And as you read this poem, may you feel what I feel
My simple gift for a special someone
A poem from a knight in heart
To a Princess of my life
“That’s— that’s a lovely poem!” Princess Shayna said that she almost rose on her feet. “You made it for her isn’t it?”
“Yeah, on my way to Hywel after the battle in Duin Hall.” replied Drinn. And then his face became solemn again. “But— I don’t know if she may be able to hear it.”
“I believe she will, Drinn.” said Princess Shayna. “Never lose hope.”
“Good news! Good news!” shouted an elf running towards Ecklaer and King Mathias. Drinn and Princess Shayna stood up from hearing the elf, and observed the elf conversing with the two leaders.
King Mathias then went in the middle of the crowd to announce what the elf has reported.
“We’re safe! Fortress Hill has come to aid us!” King Mathias said, and the chamber was filled with joyous cheers.