And by dawn, the fog deepened, swirling round walls in ghostly shapes. The chill seemed to settle deep and clear for sharpening the turmoil inside my head as we waited for the clash of fate that seems to get progressively closer. The forces of Galarcia arrive, and the sky broods over storm clouds that seem to mirror the tension within our own ranks.
It was before noon when the first whisper of movement was first detectible: a glare of metal from far off on the horizon, catching the thin light.
From the tower, I saw Chris arrive, his face set, his eyes scanning the grasslands.
"They are closer than we realized," he said, digging his fists into his thighs. "Our scouts may have held them off a little, but not long enough.".
Below, soldiers moved to their stations. Men and women in Arkenvale's livery stood side by side with our own, colors crossed, defying this threat that was coming their way. Up the walls on intervals stood archers, and from the armory came the creak of loaded catapults set in stone halls.
Davian was drawn up from the dungeon, his wrists shackled with chains. He smirked at her cynically as he gazed from the soldiers to the darkening sky.
"So this is how you prepare for war," he sneered. "I wonder if you'll stand a chance after all."
Chris turned to Davian, his gaze cold. "You may be right. But if Galarcia falls, it won't be because of you.".
Davian smirked. "If Galarcia falls, it will be because they underestimated you. Just as I once did.".
We went onto the field as horns were blaring in the distance, announcing Galarcia's advance vanguard. My heart was pounding, my fists clenched, praying silently that this gambit we set would pay off. Tomas and his riders had taken formation for a diversionary attack, hoping to scatter Galarcia's flanks and give us enough room to put the trap in.
In tense silence, Chris spoke, his voice low. "If they break through fall back to the inner keep. Fight for it at all costs."
I nodded, took one last look round at those who stood around me. Then, with a nod to Tomas, battle commenced.
Tomas's horsemen charged, a fierce tide against Galarcia's advancing lines. For an instant it was bedlam—a blinding clash of steel and shouts as our forces plowed into the enemy. Then the catapults launched, sending boulders crashing into Galarcia's ranks, scattering their formations. I could see confusion ripple through the enemy as they attempted to reorganize themselves.
Arkenvale's soldiery pressed forward with us, forcing back the center of Galarcia's lines. I fought besides Chris, parrying and blocking as Galarcia's was plain against us. Every ringing impact of blade on blade left my arms humming with the shock of the impact, but I bore with it, driving back as the soldiers at my side fought as if death itself warred against them.
As the steel clashes, a shout is heard. Isla has returned; dust and blood streak across her face. "There's a second wave"They're going around to the west!"
Chris mutters under his breath and looks up at me. "We need more soldiers, or else we're going to be overwhelmed."
I didn't hesitate to point to a group of archers not far away in Arkenvale and they tensed, loosing volleys of arrows as they ran to the western side, where Galarcia's troops had begun to advance again.
The hours ran one into the next as we fought. Just when exhaustion was about to devour me, a blare from the eastern front sounded its horn. Arkenvale's forces, under the leadership of Lord Alder himself, burst forth from yonder, flanking Galarcia's legion. The enemy, now seeing their exposed position, lurched and hastened their advance.
But then in the distance I see it: these loathed siege towers towering over Galarcia ranks. The enemy will not give: they send wave after wave against our defenses.
Chris stepped alongside me, grinning with an unforgiving grimace. "This is it. If we hold them here, we might just survive the night.".
We stood shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the last spasm of Galarcia. The shadows seemed to stretch themselves out over the battlefield into a grim eternity, then the storm clouds broke and torrents of rain drenched our map-worked earth, mingling with the congealing gore.
With every ounce of strength I fought. Chris's blade flashed alongside me. His movements were fierce yet so controlled, slicing through soldiers as they charged toward us. I was blocking, dodging, and striking with the precision of someone who has everything to lose.
At last, as the rain strengthened and the earth became a quagmire of mud and blood, Galarcia's lines started to give ground. Horns sounded across their ranks, announcing a general retirement. A bellow of triumph shook our ranks as we realized the impossible-we had held.
As the enemy backed away, abandoning to us their towers of siege, Chris turned toward me, his face streaked with rain and sweat but lit with fierce triumph.
"We did it, Chloe. We really did it."
I was exhausted and exhilarated at the same time, and I couldn't help but smile. "Together."
As the sun rose over the battlefield, the mist began to creep back in, shrouding the dead once again in its gray cloak. We had won the day, but the cost told: scattered bodies and smashed arms broke up the landscape and was written on the faces of those who survived.
And as we came out of there, we had bought ourselves a fine victory, and with Chris at our side, I knew that no matter what was ahead, we would face it together.