"Captain Cromwell." Both salute. "Jessalie told u you wanted to speak to us sir?"
"Yes, Gwen and Galadrin right?"
Both node firmly. "You both did a great job but i'm afraid i am going to ask even more from you. We are going to the deadsea, looking for answers and ..."
"We are in captain!" Gwen almost shouts at him with a stern look on her face and Galadrin looking a bit shocked.
"Are you sure? I mean i am glad to hear but after what happened ... I get if you are reluctant to go there again, near those things."
"No sir, those things killed Clide. We should have done more, this is our chance to make it right." She says confidently and with a hint of anger in her voice. Galadrin just remains silent, clearly not as confident as the fawn beside him.
"Alright splendid! We leave tomorrow. We travel light and fast on horseback to the town of Valiance on the edge of the deadsea. From there we go in on foot."
"Understood sir, we shall be ready!" the girl salutes and turns leaving Galadrin to follow moments after.
Marius lets out a sigh of relief and head towards his quarters, finding Jess there packing for their journey. "Seems you are eager to go." he says as he enters.
"You know me, i'm not one to shy away from adventure."
"I know but this, this is more than adventure, you saw what those thing did to us."
"The more reason to go. We may find a way to stop them."
"Or we find nothing but death ... but I know i won't talk you out of it so ..." He starts packing as well, just the bare essentials, in one light pack and rolled up sheepskins for both. It does not take them long after witch Jess lets her fall back onto the bed. "Last time we will see a decent bed for a while."
"That will be the least of our worries."
Jess turns on her side, facing him and slowly undo's a few toggles of her shirts, giving glimpse of her ample cleavage. "What are you doing? Its hardly the time to ..." He quickly says.
Jess doesn't even pause at his words and further undo's her shirt, eventually taking it off entirely without lifting her gaze from him. "Its the perfect time, we march toward certain doom." She says lifting herself from the bed. "But if your not going to make it easy for me ... I have other ways." She continuous walking towards him, swaying her hips even more then usual. "Come on, i'm seriu ..." She cuts him off with a kiss, passionate enough to awaken his vigor as she leads him towards the bed.
The next morning Marius and Jess are up early and packed for their journey. They head out of the barracks to be greeted by both Gwen and Galadrin, already set to depart. On horseback they ride out of the city before the rooster even crows. They pass small farming settlements, trading outposts, a village or 2 before they reach the town of Valliant, bordering on the edge of the deadsea. It took them almost 2 days to reach it with only short breaks and no sleep. The four head towards the only inn in town. "Well this looks like its about to collapse upon itself." Galadrin says standing in front of it. "Could have stayed with the horses, seemed there where plenty empty stables." Jess interjects.
"If the roof comes down on our heads i am going to regret not taking you up on that offer." He jests while Marius is already true the door with Gwen in toe.
"How many rooms you have?" Marius asks the bewildered innkeeper.
"Only one left. Two beds though." He says while cleaning out a mug.
"We will take it, how much?"
"A silver a night."
"That's steep!" Marius grunts
"Only inn in the area, take it or leave it."
"Fine."
"Room 2, upstairs first on the left."
The innkeeper slides an old looking key across the counter with a smug smile on his face. Marius reluctantly takes it and heads up the stairs with his party not far behind. When they enter their room they throw their packs and gear in a corner. Marius quickly takes the two sheepskins he brought and unrolls them behind the beds. "We will sleep here Galadrin."
"Ow how chivalrous." Jess says jesting but clearly appreciates the gesture as she jumps on the bed.
Both Gwen and Galadrin look at each other clearly uncomfortable as how Jessalie addresses their captain. Marius remain silent and takes a seat on the sheepskin behind Jess' bed. "Sleep, tomorrow we ride out early." Marius says while lying down.
"Yes sir." Gwen says while taking the other bed.
"Oh dispense with the formalities. We are far from Baldrum." Jess says while taking her boots off and throwing them on Marius.
"What do you mean?" Galadrin says confused.
"Sir this, captain that. Just call him Marius. We are all risking our lives out here as equals." She says while laying her head down on the pillow.
The pair look at each other in silence. "Marius will do fine, now rest, sleep. We head out at the break of dawn." Marius says reluctantly.
"What do you think we will find?" Gwen asks with a soft voice.
"Nothing good." Galadrin interjects quickly
"I will undoubtedly be more of what we already faced but we need answers. These things did not just come to life on their own, someone or something is behind all this. It's our job to find out who or what it is." Marius calmly replies and silence falls over the room until Jess speaks up a few minutes later.
"Don't worry, we will be in and out before they even know we where there. Now rest, we'll all need it."
The following morning, all are rudely awakened by Jess barging out the door and down the stairs. Shocked and worried Marius charges after her, to find her throwing up just outside the inn's door. "Jess!? Are you alright?" He says with a slight tremble in his voice. "I thought elves don't really get ..."
"I'm not sick. I think ... i'm pregnant." She cuts in while throwing up again. Marius quickly tears a piece of cloth from his sleeve and hands it to her.
"Are you ... sure?"
"I think so ..." She says looking up at him with a little fear in her eyes.
"That's ... Wonderful!" He shouts and picks her up in a swell of pure excitement. "By the elders of all the things, i was not expecting!"
Jess struggles to get free as Marius excitement did not do her stomach any favors and she lets go again. "If I was not feeling like this i would probably feel happier about this as well."
"Well i'll have Gwen or Galadrin escort you back to Baldrum, so you can ... "
"No! That's not going to happen, i'm not going to imprison myself for 9 months, you can forget that right away."
"I'm not imprisoning you ... its just dangerous and with ..."
"I'm pregnant now, i'll be pregnant when we get back ... that's the end of it." She says just before throwing up yet again.
"Fine, fine ... but no taking chances." He says still with a smile yet to leave his face.
Gwen and Galadrin arrive downstairs as well looking surprised. "Whats going on?" She asks.
"We are having a kid!" Marius says turning towards them and without thinking.
"A kid? You both are ..." Galadrin mutters
"Yes yes ... now can everyone go back inside? I'm feeling horrible enough I don't need an audience." Jess says a little annoyed.
"Of course, come on. Lets start packing, we move as soon as Jess feels better." Marius says while motioning everyone back in.
2 hours later the party sets out again, this time on foot, leaving the horses stabled in Valiant as the harsh terrain of the deadsea would shatter their hooves in minutes. They walk the better part of the day without seeing another living thing around in the deadsea's wasteland. When night starts to fall, everyone turns in and Marius takes first watch on a rock overlooking the party's campsite. Contemplation and processing the idea of being a father, was he even fit to be one? Leading men in battle is something entirely different than raising a kid. And then it hits him, the wolf inside ... would it transfer? The kid would be half elf as well, something that does not happen often. How will it age?
"Are you worrying for the both of us up here?" Jess her soothing voice working as a balm to his worries as she takes a seat next to him.
"Shouldn't you be resting?"
"Don't start. I can't sleep, probably contemplating the same things you are up here."
"Its not that I'm not happy ... just the wolf thing ... half elf, how will he or she be treated? I ..."
Jess gently rests her head on his shoulder. "You are going to be a good father." Trowing her left arm around he back and her right around his waist. "We well take it as it comes. Together we can handle everything."
"I hope you are right about that. I want he or she to ..."
"She ... its a she."
"How do you know? You just found out your pregnant."
"I just know."
"Well we'll see when she arrives if your right."
"Have you ever known me to be wrong?"
"There is a first for everyth..."
*screeeching noise*
"Undead!!! Wake up!!" Marius shouts with his boldering voice, echoing true the rocks. Both Gwen and Galadrin jump up from their bedrolls with Gwen grabbing her sword and Galadrin his quiver and bow.
"Where captain!?" Gwen shouts towards the rock he is standing on.
"I can't see them, but i heard them. They are here." Both Jess and Marius make their way down to join them with him unsheating his sword and Jess grabbing her bow.
"I can't see more than a few feet ahead ..."
*screeching noise*
"Brace yourself, they are coming in!" His words only just spoken as a heavily decaying orc rushes out of the black towards them. Galadrin shoots an arrow straight between its eyes and it falls down, sliding forward till inches away from Marius' feet. "Backs against the rocks! Half circle!" Marius shouts out when the next one comes rushing towards him. With one swift move its head go's flying up in the air. The next and next start rushing out of the dark and are swiftly dealt with. Their number start to swell however, as they keep appearing faster and faster without pause.
"Captain?" Gwen buries her sword in an undead humans skull and has to use her foot to pull it back out. "We can't keep this up."
"I know but we can't outrun them!" He shouts back with an other foe driving him back a few paces until Jess sticks an arrow true its skull. "Ideas!?"
"We need to get out of here!" Galadrin shouts will dropping an other one.
"How? We turn out backs, we die." Jess says while spanning another arrow.
"I'll draw their attention, you run as fast as you can." Marius yells while stepping out of the half circle.
"Elders be damned if i let you do that!" Jess shouts at him while pulling him back and shooting the one rushing at him.
"If we die, we die with honor." Gwen says, starting to feel the fatigue.
Suddenly a deep, dark, almost demonic voice echo's true the darkness. "Leave, leave now ... or die and join my army."
The dead pause like they did on their first encounter, their empty gaze fixed on the party. "Run! Now!" Marius shouts as the 3 start retreating. He remains standing, gazing deep into the dark. "This is not over." He says in is low growling voice and turns to follow the others.
"No its not ... captain Cromwell." The demonic voice replies giving Marius pause. How in the Elders name does it know who he is? Why let them escape? They leave with more questions than answers. By the time they reached Valiant a full day had passed and the party was beyond exhausted. Quickly booking the same room in the inn and falling asleep where they stood. By the time Jess wakes Marius is already up, looking true the rooms only window. "You already love?" She says quietly as to not wake up Gwen and Galadrin.
"It knew me ... how is this possible? Why did it let us leave?"
" I don't know but at least now we know there is something or someone behind all this."
"Hardly the answers we where looking for."
"Answers non the less. Now rest ... we have a long ride ahead of us back to Baldrum."
Marius lays himself down but sleep never comes. His mind returning to that voice over and over again until day breaks and the rest awakens.
The ride back to Baldrum is a long and hard one, as the party hardly spoke and where still haunted by what they faced in the deadsea. When they do finally ride true the gates, Marius heads towards the kings castle while the rest make there way to the barracks. By the time he arrives Dalien was already informed of their return and was awaiting him on the castle steps. "Captain ... glade to see you return in one piece." Marius remaining silent, dismounts shadow and approaches the mage.
"What have you found out?" He continuous.
"Nothing good. They attack under cover of night like an endless horde. We barely held on until suddenly they stopped and ... a voice ... told us to run."
"So someone is behind this!"
"That's not all ... it knew me ... it knew my name."
"That is curious ..."
"It send shivers down my spine Dalien ... specially now with ..."
"Your child, yes i can imagine."
"How did you ...!?"
"I'm a mage Marius, its my job to know things. But I did not want to rob the both of you of finding out yourselves."
Marius remains silent for a moment. "Now what? I mean we barely made it a day into the deadsea ... who knows how many there are ... if they attack ..."
"We have a plan Marius, join us tomorrow afternoon in the meeting room, bring Jess."
Marius simply nods while mounting shadow again and riding off. His mind clearly still occupied with all that had transpired. He could not decide what he was worried more about. Having a kid or the dead. It all was becoming a bit to much for him. One moment he was perfectly happy with Jess, the next they are fighting for their lives on an almost daily basis. Not quit the life he foresaw, then again not a single thing in his life went like he hoped so why should this be any different?
After stabling Shadow he makes his way towards the barrack where emotions are running high. A large chunk of his troops are out in front shouting and arguing with Jess at the center trying to calm everyone down. Just when he arrives a private, in a hotheaded state pushes Jess aside, making her fall to the ground. Marius runs true the gathered masses to quickly pick her up from the ground with an expression that spoke volumes to Jess. "It was an accident, love."
He turns towards the soldier and before the private could apologize he is hit full in the face by an enraged Marius and sinks to the ground. "ENOUGH!" His buldering voice instantly giving everyone pause. "You are bloody soldiers of Baldrum! Act like it!" He continuous in the same tone.
"They are just scared love, we all are." Jess whispers in his ear, trying to calm him down just a little.
"Everyone listen up!" He continuous moving up the barrack steps so everyone can see him clearly. "I know everyone is scared. I am scared as well ... but that is no reason to fight amongst ourselves. When they attack and attack they will, the only thing keeping you alive will be the man or woman next to you! So until that time we have 2 options ... you act like a soldier of the wolf battalion and take this time to prepare the best we can or we continue to bicker among ourselves and make it easy for those dead bastards. I for one am not planning to make it easy for them! I ... for those of you who hadn't heard the rumors by now ... yes, Jessalie and I are together and ... she is pregnant. So i don't just fight for myself, I fight for the woman I love, i fight for a safe place where my kid can grow up, i fight for everyone of you, the people you love, i fight for Baldrum, i fight for Eldor!" A silence falls over the troops as they stand and look at him.
"Captain Crom!" Gwen shouts while stepping forward "I fight with you"
"And I!" Galadrin shouts when stepping out next to Gwen.
"And I" the next soldier shouts. "And I!" One by one they step forward and stand to attention in front of their captain. Until finally, the private who Marius knocked to the ground steps true the line. "Captain, I ..."
"I am sorry private, i should not have lost my composure like that." He cuts the private off.
"No, i am sorry captain. I fight with you! I shall prove i am better then this." The soldier salutes and steps in besides his colleagues.
"For today, rest. If you have family or friends in Baldrum, go see them. Tomorrow I head to the castle and we will find a way to stop the coming storm. When I get back you will all be informed and this war against the dead will truly begin."
His whole battalion salutes and disperses, leaving only him and Jess alone on the steps. "That was quit the speeches." She says, smiling softly at him.
"They needed it, i needed it."
"Don't go doubting yourself, you give your men strength. You are a born leader.
"You give me strength." He says turning towards her and swooping her up in his arms towards the barracks hallway, making her face light up brightly.
The next day Marius and Jessalie arrive at the war council and are greeted by Dalien. "My favorite couple arrives." He says clearly in a good mood.
"Good morning Dalien." Jess replies cheerfully as well with Marius just nodding beside her.
"We are just waiting for captain Bodrin now b ... ah there he is. Lets head inside."
They all follow Dalien with Bodrin a bit behind. Once inside they all take a seat at the big table at the center of the room, with the king at the head and Dalien at his side.
"Welcome all." The king starts of with his usual smug expression. "Your king has gathered you all here today with joyous news. For I have concocted a plan that will keep the dead at bay!" He pauses, clearly hoping on praise that does not come. "Dalien, explain my plan."
Dalien stands up and rolls out a map of Eldor in the center of the table. "When they come, it will be almost impossible to stop them in the field. We could retreat behind Baldrums gates but many towns and settlements would pay the price and ... feed their army even more. But ... if we close of the deadsea ... we avoid conflict all together." Everyone rises to their feet, peering at the map as Dalien points at Valiant. "Valiant is perfectly located at the edge of the deadsea here where the land follows a natural bottleneck. So if we fortify Valiant into a stronghold and build a wall here and here." Pointing at both sides of the town. "If we build from Valiant to the mountains on both sides, they will have no place left to cross into our lands."
"What if they cross the mountains?" Bodrin interjects.
"These mountains are called Eldors Edges for a reason captain. Rocks so sharp they could cut bread. No army can cross them, not even a dead one."
The room falls silent for a moment staring at the map. "My plan shall not fail. We start building immediately. Dismissed." The king says clearly annoyed by the lack of enthusiasm and praise for the plan and walks off with his guard detail close behind.
"Marius, Bodrin and Jessalie ... please wait a moment." Dalien says as the king leaves the room. "I know everyone is scared and walling of a piece of land does not sound like much of a plan but i can assure you, this IS the best way to deal with a threat like this." He says almost as if looking for confirmation.
"We all know its you who came up with this Dalien and its not that we don't agree with it ... it's just not a permanent one. What if they breach the wall? Get over? Or worse, what if they attack while building it?"
"That's why I am, ... the king is, sending his best military commanders and masons to oversee the building and take command of Valiance Hold when construction is complete."
"Who?" Bodrin asks.
"Well you 3, i thought that was obvious?"
They remain silent, looking at eachother a little confused.
"The king appoints Marius as warden of Valiance Hold with Bodrin and Jessalie as his captain. Jess commanding the rangers and Bodrin the infantry. Is this agreeable to all?"
"Are you making me a captain!?" Jess asks confused.
"I heard how you rallied the rangers during your first encounter with the dead. They respect you and will follow you without hesitation. And as for Bodrin ... I know you and Marius are friends, is this go ..."
"I would follow this oef true the Elders gates if need be." Bodrin quickly follows while patting Marius on his back.
"What do you say ... warden Cromwell?"
"I ... I doubt I am the right man for this."
"You are the only man for the job! You know what we face, you held your own against them twice and you have the best reason to protect the wall right here." He says pointing at Jess' belly. "You will have two thousand men under your command while we rebuild the army's strength from here."
Marius turns to Jess, looking for confirmation and gets it in form of a gentle nod. "Fine." He mutters, clearly not convinced, both questioning the durability of the plan and his own capability of running a keep.
"I will be accompanying you and overseeing the build with you as an advisor." Dalien utters enthusiastically.
"Well that's unexpected, the king is letting you leave his side?" Marius replies.
"It took some convincing ... a lot of convincing, but yes. Now lets build us a keep shall we?"