The journey to Ironclad Fortress was tiresome, the rugged terrain testing the limits of even the most seasoned soldiers. General Ninloth led the way with a black stallion, his expression a mask of determination. Berdine rode a white mare beside him, her sharp eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Their mission was clear: retrieve the dwarven weapon plans at all costs.
"We should reach the fortress by nightfall," Ninloth said, his voice steady. "I want you to be really careful, Berdine. Dwarves are vicious fighters and I expect high resistance from them."
Berdine nodded, her mind focused on the task ahead. "Understood, General. Do we have a clear strategy?"
Ninloth glanced at her, appreciating her readiness. "Yes. We'll use a direct approach. Our army will engage the dwarves head-on. They rely on their fortress and their stout defenses, but we will overwhelm them with our numbers and our strategy. We have the advantage of surprise, and we must use it."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, the team reached the outskirts of Ironclad Fortress. The massive structure loomed ahead, its stone walls and iron gates a formidable barrier.
Ninloth raised a hand, signaling for the army to halt. He turned to Berdine and the other commanders. "We will attack at dawn. Our scouts have reported that the dwarves are not expecting an assault this soon. We'll position our archers on the high ground to the west and our infantry in the valley. Berdine, you'll lead the healers and provide support to the front lines."
Berdine's eyes lit up with determination. "Understood, General."
The army moved into position, the soldiers moving silently through the darkness. The archers took their places on the high ground, their bows ready. The infantry spread out in the valley, shields and swords at the ready. Berdine positioned herself with the healers, ensuring they were prepared for the battle ahead.
As the first light of dawn began to break, Ninloth raised his sword, the signal for the attack. The archers released a volley of arrows, darkening the sky as they soared towards the fortress. The dwarves, caught off guard, scrambled to defend their walls.
"Charge!" Ninloth bellowed, and the infantry surged forward, their battle cries echoing through the valley.
Berdine watched as the soldiers clashed with the dwarven defenders. The sound of metal striking metal filled the air, and the ground shook with the force of the battle. She moved swiftly among the soldiers, her healing magic mending wounds and bolstering their strength.
Despite their initial surprise, the dwarves quickly regrouped and mounted a fierce defense. Their stout shields and heavy axes proved formidable, and the battle raged fiercely at the base of the fortress walls.
Ninloth fought at the front, his sword a blur of deadly precision. He cut down dwarven warriors with ruthless efficiency, his presence a beacon of strength for his soldiers. Berdine stayed close, her magic reflecting attacks and healing the wounded.
Just as the tide seemed to be turning in their favor, a loud horn sounded from within the fortress. Berdine's heart sank as she saw a large contingent of dwarven reinforcements pouring out from a hidden gate. They were heavily armored and armed with devastating war hammers.
"Ninloth!" Berdine shouted over the rumble of battle. "Reinforcements! We're being flanked!"
Ninloth's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. "We need to hold the line! Berdine, tell Captain Lora to take a squad and engage those reinforcements. We can't let them break through."
Berdine nodded and vanished into the bloody crowd of battle.
The clash with Captain Lora's team was brutal, but the dwarven reinforcements were relentless. Lora's squad was quickly overwhelmed, their numbers too few to hold back the tide. She watched in horror as her soldiers fell one by one, their cries of pain and defiance echoing in her ears.
Ninloth, seeing the collapse of their right flank, fought his way through the chaos to reach Captain Lora. "We're outnumbered! We need to fall back and regroup!"
Lora nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of their defeat. "Retreat!" she shouted, her voice carrying over the battlefield. "Fall back!"
The order rippled through the ranks, and the army began to withdraw. The dwarves pressed their advantage, their war cries ringing in the air as they pushed the retreating soldiers back.
Ninloth and Captain Lora fought desperately to cover the retreat, their swords a last line of defense against the advancing dwarves. The ground was slick with blood, and the air was thick with the scent of death and defeat.
As they reached the relative safety of a wooded glen, Ninloth called for a halt. The soldiers, battered and weary, collapsed to the ground, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair.
Berdine knelt beside a wounded soldier, her hands glowing with healing magic. "We need to tend to the injured and regroup. We can't let this defeat break us."
Ninloth nodded, his expression grim. "We'll return to camp and report our losses. This battle is lost, but the war is not over. We will find another way to secure those plans."
Suddenly, a group of dwarven scouts emerged from the trees, ambushing the weary soldiers. The dwarves were swift and brutal, their attacks precise. In the chaos, Berdine found herself surrounded. She fought valiantly, her magic and skill keeping the dwarves at bay, but their numbers were overwhelming.
"Thalion!" Berdine shouted as she was grabbed from behind, her arms pinned. "Help!"
Ninloth turned, his eyes widening in horror as he saw Berdine being dragged away. "Berdine! No!"
He tried to fight his way to her, but the dwarves closed in, forcing him back. Berdine struggled, her magic flaring wildly, but the dwarves' grip was unyielding. They subdued her, binding her hands and covering her mouth to stifle her cries.
Ninloth fumed with fury, wanting to smash every single dwarf that kept him from reaching her. He looked around for an opening in dwarven defenses but there were too many of them and his soldiers were drained. It meant they either retreated or died. It was a hard decision to make but as a general, this heavy responsibility fell on his shoulders. "Retreat!'' he shouted, his voice filled with anguish. "We have to retreat now!"
The remaining soldiers, seeing their general's despair, fell back in disarray. The dwarves, satisfied with their capture, did not pursue. Ninloth watched helplessly as Berdine was carried off, his heart heavy with guilt and fury.
As the battered army made their way deeper into the forest, away from the immediate danger, Ninloth called for a halt. The soldiers, weary and bloodied, found places to rest among the trees and boulders. Ninloth gathered his remaining officers in a small clearing, their faces etched with concern and exhaustion.
Captain Lora approached him with deep concern in her bloodied face. ''What do we do now general?''
Ninloth looked at her, his heart was full of fury and grief yet as a leader of his people, he could not act on those feelings. "We need to set up a temporary camp to stay the night and renew our strenght. Then, in the first light, we will return to the camp and plan a rescue mission. ''
Captain Lora nodded. "I'll get the men organized."
As the officers dispersed to carry out their orders, Ninloth found a quiet spot to think. His mind was racing with thoughts of Berdine and the mission ahead. He knew the dwarves would not be kind to her, and the thought of her suffering filled him with rage. Yet at least he knew that they would not kill her… yet. If they intended to kill they would have done it right away instead of capturing her.
The soldiers worked quickly, setting up a temporary camp and tending to the wounded. Scouts were sent out to gather intelligence on the dwarven movements and find a way into the fortress. The atmosphere was tense, but there was a renewed sense of determination among the men.
Ninloth spent the night poring over maps and planning their next move. He barely slept, his mind consumed with thoughts of Berdine and the mission ahead. He knew they had to move quickly if they were going to rescue her and retrieve the plans.
The following morning, Ninloth called his officers together. "We have two objectives: rescue Berdine and retrieve the weapon plans. We can't accomplish both in our current state. We will return to camp, regroup, and plan a proper assault."
One of the officers, Captain Thalor, voiced his concern. "General, will Berdine be safe until then?"
Ninloth's jaw tightened. "The dwarves will likely keep her alive for interrogation. They want information, not just a trophy. We have to believe she can hold out until we return."
Captain Lora stepped forward. "We need to make sure we have the right strategy this time. We can't afford another defeat."
Ninloth nodded. "Agreed. Once we're back at camp, we'll gather more intelligence, secure reinforcements, and ensure our next assault is decisive."
The march back to camp was slow and arduous. The soldiers were weary, their morale low, but Ninloth's presence and determination kept them moving. They arrived at the camp by nightfall, and the news of their defeat and Berdine's capture spread quickly among the ranks, casting a shroud of defeat over the camp.
Ninloth called for an immediate council of war. "We need to act swiftly and decisively. Thalor, I want you to gather all available intelligence on the fortress. Lora, work with our healers to get the men back to fighting strength as quickly as possible."
Thalor nodded. "I'll send scouts out at first light. We'll find any weaknesses in their defenses."
Lora added, "We'll have the men ready, General. Berdine's capture has hit us hard, but it has also given us a new resolve."
Ninloth's eyes hardened. "We will not fail her again."
As the council dispersed, Ninloth remained in the tent, staring at the map of the fortress. He could see every path they had taken, every mistake they had made. He knew that they had underestimated the dwarves' resolve and strength, and they had paid dearly for it. He vowed that this would not happen again.
The hardest part was that now he had to report this to the queen and he was wondering if the queen would have his head for letting Berdine get caught. Not that he cared much about his own life if it meant Berdine would be safe, but if the queen had his head, it meant he wouldn't be able to go and rescue her. Grabbing a piece of parchment, he started to scribble his report to the queen his heart still aching with the aftermath of defeat. He hesitated for a moment when he came to the point where he had to explain Berdine's captivity, then he kept writing until a voice disturbed him.
''General?'' a young sergeant spoke up.
Ninloth looked up at the soldier, his expression a mask of annoyance as he hated to be disturbed now. He needed to be left alone. ''What is it, sergeant?''
Realizing the unwelcoming expression on his general's face, the sergeant spoke quickly. ''Arden Shadowborne returned from their mission with Lord Valerius.''