Her voice resonated throughout the crowd as murmurs rumbled amongst the people. A few hands shot out right away, one Arella recognized as Greylin, some others trickled in for a few minutes before she did a final count. 25 people volunteered in total, most of which were human with only six being Sentallen.
'I can't blame them for not wanting to help, I didn't want to in the first place.' She thought to herself as Sir Kaylln had the volunteers step off to the side. Once the volunteers were separated from the rest Arella addressed everyone once more.
"I am extremely grateful for the participation from everyone. I want to thank our volunteers for answering the call of our neighboring city. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy day to listen to this proposal. We will be sending 75 rations with our volunteers as well to ensure they are fed and as prepared for Ystrid as they can be. I ask that the participants stay behind to receive their instructions for this campaign. If there are no questions or complaints that will conclude our city meeting." She looked over at Sir Kaylln and Lord Levinn's knight commander, gesturing for them to walk over and give their briefs to the participants.
She turned to Lord Levinn and addressed him flatly. "You have 25 of my men and 75 rations as agreed. We will have everything gathered and ready to depart tomorrow morning. I will be making sure that my people are not mistreated while they are in Trystalla serving under you." He nodded, unimpressed by the amount of assistance he was receiving. Arella knew he would not dare try to ask for any more, at least not while he was face to face with her.
As she started toward the group the knights were addressing she caught a glimpse of Cassyus out of the corner of her eye. He stood in the shadows cast by the castle walls, staring at Arella with an indescribable look on his face. She shook her head as she continued heading in the direction of the volunteer group, trying desperately to calm the slamming of her heart against her chest.
"You may be staying in Trystalla for a little while but do not forget where your loyalties lie." Sir Kaylln spoke icily. Arella came up behind him while everyone bowed their heads. She looked around at all of the faces she was losing, some she may never see again. Her face fell slightly as worry and sadness filled her thoughts.
'They are all so young.' She kept saying in her head, resentment growing in her heart towards Trystalla for even asking to send these young men to go out and die for them. She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and waited for the commander to finish his brief.
"My Lady do you have anything you would like to say?" Sir Kaylln turned his attention to Arella as she nodded. "None of you had to do this, I am impressed with each and every one of you for stepping up in such concerning times. I only ask a few simple things from you before we send you off tomorrow. Report anything and everything happening at Trystalla's walls and within the city, I want to know what is going on from an honest perspective. And the last request I have...come back home to us." Her voice was soft and genuine. Fear and despair flashed across some of the men's eyes as the realization dawned on them that they were actually leaving to go fight.
The rest of the day went by rather quickly, mostly due to gathering all of the provisions and making last minute preparations for the departing party. The castle grounds were bustling with ShadowFlame Knights and the Trystallan Guardian Knights readying the carriages, horses and men for the three day journey up north.
Arella saw to the training of the volunteers to ensure they were not completely clueless charging into combat. She ran them through how to hold and swing a sword properly, how to block blows with either a weapon or a shield and how to basically shoot a crossbow. She tried her best not to tire them out too much, but she also did not know the kind of training the Guardian Knights would provide, if any.
"In battle, it is kill or be killed. It does not matter who or what your opponent is, in the heat of the fight all that matters is survival and that is the most important thing. The second most important thing to remember is to never lose all of yourself, once you do there is no going back." Arella's final words of wisdom echoed across the field. All of the men's faces grew grim as they all nodded in acknowledgement.
By the time Arella was done with her training and words of advice the sky had turned bright pinkish purple as the sun set beyond the mountains. She sent all of the men inside to eat, clean themselves and rest up for tomorrow. Olenya came out to the training grounds to find Arella, informing her that the meal was being served in the banquet hall.
"All of the knights, campaign party members and Lord Levinn are attending. Will you be joining My Lady?" She asked nervously. It was only proper for her to be present for the final feast, yet she couldn't bring herself to sit there.
Arella shook her head slowly as she spoke. "I don't have it in me tonight. Please send my apologizes and have Erik send a plate up to my quarters. I wish to be left alone for a little while." Her face gave everything away, her eyes were dull and full of regret. Olenya lowered her gaze and shrunk back, respecting her friend's request. Without uttering another word, Olenya made her way back to the castle as Arella started walking towards the lake once more.
She sat at the bottom of the hill facing the water, staring into it's depths. The last bit of light faded as the night cast its' veil over the land. Arella couldn't even feel the cold air against her skin as she sank further into melancholy. Before she became Lady of Evynne she had fought in countless battles and won many of them. She had seen so many horrible things over the years, but she had never sent boys off to die. Guilt tore at her, making her stomach flip and twist as she fought the urge to scream. A single tear fell down her cheek that she didn't bother to wipe away.
'Why am I crying? I've gone off to fight multiple times before and I never shed a tear. Since when did I become so weak?' She pondered, roughly taking out her hair and letting it fall behind her messily. Her face hardened as she kept staring into the empty glen-like area, so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't hear the sound of someone approaching.
"Well it isn't everyday that you get to see the Lady of the land crying into her knees. What has you so troubled My Lady?" Cassyus's voice broke through Arella's desolate spiral. She didn't move a muscle even as she replied.
"Shut. Up." She spat. Her face unfeeling and still. She didn't want to converse with anyone on a proper level, she didn't even know if she wanted to talk at all.
"Hey, take a breath. I didn't mean anything by it. What has you so worked up?" He sat down next to her and gently put his hand on her shoulder. She tensed up for a moment at the sudden touch. He moved his hand in a circular motion along her shoulder blades, he applied just enough pressure to be comforting without hurting her. She slowly turned her head to glance at him, her eyes scanning his.
"You'll think me childish if I say." She croaked weakly, finding it hard to stay cold with him. He reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers grazed her skin ever so delicately. "After seeing how you handled the matters in your city today, nothing will make me think that of you." He continued rubbing her back as she relaxed into it. She swallowed and let out a shaky breath, gathering her thoughts before she said anything.
"I am sending 25 young men to die. 25 men who had their whole lives ahead of them, 25 men who had families that they have to say good-bye to and I am the one that is sending them off. To go fight and defend a neighboring city who is openly against half of the my subjects existence." She paused, anger burning her throat. It felt like an iron hand was gripping her neck, making her choke on her words. "I should have told him to kick rocks and tossed him from the city." She seethed, her clenched fists started shaking as she thought back to the day before.
Cassyus said nothing for a long while, just sat next to Arella rubbing her back. The moon hung halfway up in the sky, stars dotted in every which way. After what seemed like an eternity in silence Cassyus breathed in sharply.
"You truly care for each and every one of your people. That is rare, and it is incredible. You took an impossible stance in a conflict no one is going to win and you handled the request with grace. You compromised and even though it isn't ideal it was the right thing to do. Those men volunteered to join, you did not force anyone and you certainly are not the one sending them off to die. I know this is hard, they are young but they also aren't children." He tilted her head up making her look at him, his eyes glowing more golden than green now. "You are a fierce and strong leader. Don't let this shatter you." His words were comforting and firm with conviction, like he was putting all of his effort into having her believe what he said.
The tension from her face fell as a weak smile curled at the edge of her lips. She sighed and leaned into his hand that still cupped her chin. "Are you sure we haven't met before?" She asked halfheartedly, exhaustion setting in her eyes. He ran his thumb back and forth on her cheek, watching as her eyes fluttered to stay awake.
"Well now, you tell me." He whispered before he let go of her face as he stood up. He lowered his hand down to help her up. "Come on, let's get you to bed. We all had an eventful day."
Arella grabbed his extended hand and pulled herself up to her feet. She dusted off her dress and readjusted, suddenly feeling the chilled night breeze. She shivered slightly before she felt something drape around her shoulders. Cassyus placed his green cloak on her and lifted the hood so the wind didn't bother her ears. She looked up at him and saw the outline of his disheveled hair and his broad chest.
He bent down and lifted her up in one swift motion while he began making his way to the castle. Arella gasped against the abrupt movement.
"I can walk, it is really alright. Thank you for letting me borrow your cloak, aren't you cold though?" She asked while trying to wiggle out of his grip. He tightened his hold on her side and legs as he tilted her onto his chest. "I'll be fine but with how you almost fell asleep sitting over there, I am not taking any chances." He stated, leaving no room for an argument.
Knowing she was not going to be let down, Arella curled herself into Cassyus's chest and slowly felt herself slip out of consciousness as she listened to the sound of his beating heart.