novelxo Chapter Chapter Fourteen
The army of Tanis Thalin moved out onto the field and stood staring at the great city laid out before it. The sight of the turrets on its walls touching the sky cause a sense of awe even the Elves felt. The great stone blocks of the wall shone with the rising sun as the men and women warriors marched onto the field. Tanis was dumbstruck as he walked to the front of his army and joined his foster father and closest friends.
“Father, what have I led these men to? I fear the worst for us all.” Said Tanis to his companions. “I should have thought with my head instead of my heart. Now all of these good men and all of us will lay dead on that field. The dwarves will not respond. We stand alone against the power that created that.”
Toirin Talis looked down at his foundling son and smiled. “My child, you have learned the last great lesson of battle. You are now looking at what you think is undefeatable odds. But do not fear my child. The day is always darkest before we begin. I will tell you this, the surprises this day will not be yours, but of your enemy. Lead your people into battle with confidence in your victory. Let them see you proud and unafraid as we begin this day. For this day will be yours my son. Do not show your people fear or that is what they will take into their hearts. Show courage and strength and that is what they will take. Give your soldiers the strength that they will need this day. Do your part and allow me to handle the details!” Screamed the elven king.
“Father. You are right and this is not hopeless, I think. I will take the field today and the Dark Knight will fall at my hand! Men draw arms and follow me to Glory or death!” screamed Tanis. All around him men started screaming out replies and making ready for battle lining themselves for the coming battle.
The troops of Tanis Thalin moved slowly toward the walls looking in trepidation as the wall loomed high above them. As they grew closer to the walls, the enemy’s troops began to emerge from secreted tunnels under the walls. Rapidly, Thalin’s troops sat outnumbered upon the field and even the elven king looked concerned. Suddenly, a loud sound pierced the air and from the wall emerged the Dark Knight with his dwarven escort. “So you challenge me? You child? You think to bring down the most deadly of the dread lords? My, have the druids run out of want to be heroes so now they recruit children? Men make this quick so I can enjoy my now disturbed lunch.”
“Order the archers to draw arrow but not to loose.” whispered the elven king, “then prepare the long arms for a charge. Hold them all in place but do not fire or move. I will tell you the proper moment.”
“I will make it so Father; our lives are now in your hands. Archers! Draw arrow and hold! Long Arms! Prepare the charge! Hold until you are ordered to move!” screamed Tanis to his troops.
The enemy moved closer and closer and soon the commanders of the archers and the long arms men were looking to him for orders and were told to continue to hold. Soon the leaders of his men pleaded for the orders which would allow the men to move against the ever advancing enemy. “My Lord Tanis, the enemy is within easy bowshot now. Why will you not allow us to fire? Soon the enemy will be right on our doorstep. They are within 500 meters my lord. Please give the word. We will let loose and at least give ourselves a fighting chance.” said the commander of the archers.
“They have moved to within 400 meters!” Shouted a man from the rear of the army as more enemy troops advanced from behind Tanis’s troops.
“Be still and hold your drawn arrows. Fire when I say and no sooner.” said Tanis. “Let them know what courage is.”
But a few moments later again the commander of his archers came and pleaded with Tanis, “My lord, they are within 300 meters. We could practically pick them off with our slings. Please give the order and boost our men’s spirits.”
Tanis simply responded, “I will give word when it is time. Stay with your men and trouble me not again.”
When the man left, Tanis looked to his foster father and whispered, “Father they are within 250 meters I dare not wait much longer. When should I give the word?”
Toirin whispered back, “Laugh as if I have made the greatest of jokes then look startled at having laughed. This will give the men courage. You are unafraid then why should they? When they reach 200 meters give the word that the archers should fire only on those before us. Your surprise that I promised comes soon.”
Tanis laughed as loud as his lungs could be forced and himself to appear for the world at his ease though he still felt like his insides would twist and break apart. Tanis suddenly felt a strange relief pour over him as he laughed and found he wished to continue. As he laughed so did some of his men, and soon the army had broken out in laughter. Looking about Tanis saw men who were jumping and flailing about and yelling out to the advancing army. They held their lines but within them hurled insults and unpleasant sentiment to the advancing enemy.
At 200 meters, Tanis gave the order to fire. Arrows filled the air and rained down on the suspecting enemy causing no great injury to the sturdy dwarves that advanced still in their lines. Tanis seeing the lack of effect looked to the only father he had ever known with confusion. Again and again the arrows rained down and again and again the dwarves where ready for them. The enemy army had advanced to 50 meters when a rumble began such as had never been heard. Tanis looked around to seek out the old wyrm that traveled with them assuming that he had finally roused himself to assist in the coming battle but the truth startled him further.
Deep in the distance Tanis saw what looked like great birds approaching across the horizon. It was from this direction he had heard the sounds. The king of the elves looked up with happiness in his eyes and ordered all of the elves and men to lay down their weapons. Screaming up and down the line he called for all the warriors to step from their weapons and lower their eyes from the sky.
Tanis ran to his foster father yelling, “What is that father? What comes here? Why do we flee from the battle instead of standing and fighting?”
Tanis had only enough time to gasp as his foster father knocked him to the ground and he lost consciousness.