On the battlefield, the war raged on with the sound of clashing swords and armor, the air heavy with the acrid stench of fires burning despite the heavy snow falling relentlessly on the blood soaked ground. The screams from the soldiers could still be heard above the sounds of the battle as men and vampires alike fell to their deaths.
But it was clear to all, that the vampires had the upper hand and the humans were fighting a losing battle. The vampires were, and always had been, the superior race both physically and mentally. Their supernatural strength and mental powers afforded them an advantage that wasn't entirely lost on the human race. But yet, the battle continued as the humans fought bravely, to keep their lands and freedom all while knowing the inevitable fate that awaited them.
Prince Kheelan stood silently in the midst of the battle, his piercing blue eyes, restlessly surveying the death and destruction around him. His men were being slaughtered and, not for the first time that day, he wondered how much longer they could hold out. He turned and gazed back in the direction of the castle, expecting a rider to appear at any minute now but still no one came.
The messenger had left more than an hour ago to deliver news of the battle to the King, leaving Kheelan to wonder what was taking so long.
His second-in-command, the knight Sir Gearhoid, appeared on his left, Kheelan sensing his presence before he spoke, "Your Highness, the men are being pushed back. No word yet from the castle?"
Kheelan did not respond, his silence was answer enough.
The sky was starting to darken and an icy wind had begun to blow sending flurries of snow dancing across the battlefield in a slow, mournful dance of death. Kheelan watched and waited, his eyes giving nothing away, his broad shoulders showing no sign of the defeat that slowly crept its way into his heart. He gripped his sword and faced the wind, his long cloak billowing behind him as he walked steadfastly back into battle. He couldn't allow his men to see his emotions, he had to continue to stand beside them and fight even to his own death.
Just as he raised his sword, he heard a shout behind him from the direction of the castle followed by the sound of a horn. A long, drawn out sound signaling a halt to the fighting.
Kheelan turned to see two men on horseback riding from the castle, his father's banner flying between them and behind, a third horseman, bearing the white flag of surrender.
The King's messenger had arrived....
In the great hall of the castle, the King sat silently on his throne, surrounded by his advisors and court officials listening to their advice and opinions. Their voices were subdued with none daring to raise their voice after the messenger from Prince Kheelan had arrived. The message had been clear, the humans were losing the battle and it was only a matter of time.
King Kerrigan let his eyes wander listlessly around the hall as he listened to his men talking amongst themselves. He knew that he had to make a decision and soon, the messenger had arrived almost an hour ago and Kheelan would be waiting.
His men were being slaughtered and he would have to accept defeat but without an alliance between them and the vampires, they would all be executed without mercy. He thought about his wife, Queen Eire, and his daughter, Princess Serena, they would be captured and made slaves or worse. His son, Prince Kheelan, would be beheaded for sure and publicly at that. He worried not for himself but his family as he tried to think of a way to save them. The voices in the hall gradually fell silent as everyone waited for the King to speak.
The Kingdom of Mordach though smaller than the other kingdoms in the Northern Empire was unmatched in it's beauty. The castle was strategically built in the center of Lake Brannon with a large drawbridge connecting it to the surrounding lands. All around the lake were rolling green hills with thick forests scattered between them. The forests teemed with all manner of game and wildlife, providing an abundant food supply for the kingdom's inhabitants. Though self-sufficient the kingdom still maintained trade relations with its neighbouring kingdoms in exchange for weapons and precious jewels.
Mordach was not a military force to be reckoned with nor did it hold any riches or resources that could be used in a successful alliance. King Kerrigan knew he had but one alliance that he could offer but he couldn't allow himself to even consider it. This was now his current predicament and the reason for his delay.
Just then the door to the great hall opened and the Queen entered, followed closely behind by Princess Serena.
"My King " the Queen said, before bowing her head as she approached the throne. King Kerrigan gazed with apprehension at his wife, wondering what could bring her here at this hour. Looking beyond the Queen, he saw his daughter, Princess Serena, bow her head but remain silent, her eyes lowered as if afraid to meet his gaze.
"What brings you here, my Queen?", the King asked softly, suddenly afraid to hear her speak.
"I have heard news of the battle and I come to offer a resolution, one that you may not appreciate but perhaps the only option for the kingdom now ", the Queen spoke clearly but was still unable to hide the slight tremor in her voice.
"Of what do you speak?" King Kerrigan asked with a growing feeling of unease settling around his heart.
"We need to offer a truce to the vampires and we need to do it quickly. Our people are dying and soon so shall we unless we admit defeat and offer an alliance of sorts to protect the kingdom and our people " as Queen Eire spoke, the hall had become deathly quiet as everyone waited to hear what the Queen would say next.
Queen Eire continued speaking, "I ask that the King offer the vampires a marriage alliance between the Vampire King of the Shadowlands and Princess Serena of Mordach"
In the stunned silence that followed, no one dared to speak while the king stared in astonishment at his queen. His mouth moved but no words issued forth and as he continued to struggle to find the words with which to respond to his wife, a small voice was clearly heard throughout the hall.
"Your Majesty, I know you do not wish this burden upon me but I am fully aware of the situation we are in and I accept this as my responsibility to the kingdom and to my family " , as she spoke, Princess Serena had moved to stand beside her mother in front of the throne.
Finally finding his voice, the King spoke, "Do you know what it is you ask of me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty", replied Serena.
"Then how can you ask this of me?" asked the father to his daughter.
Serena spoke softly, her eyes slowly lifting to meet her father's gaze, "It is the only way and I do not wish for anyone else to die. If there is a way within my power to save this kingdom and save the lives of it's people then I have no other choice . This is my decision and mine alone. Please.....father"
King Kerrigan addressed his next question to Queen Eire, "And you agree to this? Eire?"
"No, I do not.....but her mind is made up", the Queen's voice was barely audible as she lowered her head to hide the tears glistening in her eyes.
King Kerrigan passed his hand across his face and closed his eyes, his breaths seemed labored as if the very air was slowly being sucked from his lungs. He had tried to avoid this very option, not wanting to sacrifice his only daughter, nor his son if it came to that, but now it seemed that the decision was no longer his to make.
He lowered his hand and studied his daughter, wondering when she had grown up into this brave, mature young lady standing before him. He could hear the soft murmurs in the hall, whispers about his daughter and her appearance. He was well aware of the rumors in the castle about his daughter and her strange appearance - they likened her to a witch.
King Kerrigan sat upright as he moved to silence the whispering but before he could utter a single word, an icy gust of wind suddenly swept through the hall. Appearing seemingly from nowhere, the wind rushed around the walls of the hall, shaking the tapestries and paintings in their fixtures and rattling the castle windows before swrling up to the ceiling and causing the chandeliers to swing precariously above the hall's occupants. The icy whirlwind then blew towards the doors, wrenching them open to reveal a figure cloaked in black standing motionless in the doorway.