Post by Neko_LG on Dec 14, 2008 17:05:48 GMT -5
When faced with the choice of writing a personal piece about a trip to a museum or castle or a short story about a medieval battle in Scotland, i chose the short story. Taking up five pages and 1, 300 words, i wrote this story: Ancient Armies.
Ancient Armies
By Sarai McDonald
She looked over the battlements. Far in the distance she could see the banners of the approaching army. The young servant girl stood beside the prince, holding his wrought iron helmet in her fearfully anxious hands. “Will that be all, sire?” She asked, her voice not betraying her fear. Prince Tidus nodded, fastening his armour properly. The servant, Miriam, ran back into the castle, as the Prince smiled. “And now it begins…” He pulled down his visor and walked confidently back into the castle.
Miriam staggered into the kitchens, breathlessly telling everyone what she had seen. “They’re here,” She panted. “King Laurence’s Army approaches. What shall we do?” She asked no-one in particular as the kitchen doors swung open. “We shall take up arms.” There stood Hrethric, the captain of the guard.
Tidus paced the throne room floor, while his father, King Lucas, watched him. “How can you do this?! I must lead the army into battle; I will not leave my men to fight alone!” The prince griped, waving his arms around angrily.
Hrethric swung a leg over his trusty steed, settling into the saddle. His armour was dented and rusty in places, having seen as many battles as the old man himself. Miriam stood at his side, hugging herself in fear. Hrethric spurred the horse’s sides, trotting out of the stables.
King Lucas raised a hand to stop his son’s rant. His deep, booming voice filled the hall. “My son, you are the only heir to my throne, and this kingdom. If you were to be killed in the battle then there would be total anarchy. Now go, you may watch from the battlements with the archers.” Tidus stormed out of the room in a rage.
Miriam looked around the stables, seeing nothing but a single old stallion and a suit of armour beside it. The helmet on the armour had the tiniest slits for eyes. Perfect for hiding who you are…
Tidus would not-No! Could not-leave his men to fight alone in the heat of battle. He had a sudden thought and started to walk towards the stables, trying not to look too suspicious.
Miriam checked that the sword was safely sheathed at her side, before pulling the visor down in front of her face. She mounted the dark horse and started out of the stable door.
Tidus changed his armour to an old set that no-one would notice, as they would his royal armour. He then walked out of the castle and joined the foot soldiers on the battlefield.
Miriam met the group of Cavalry-men, stopping her horse and drawing her sword. She had never been onto the battlefield before, no woman had, other than to carry away the wounded. She stood beside the soldiers and looked into the distance once more, seeing a large greyish crowd move across the land towards their army.
Tidus wished he had his horse to steady him; he stood at the front of the army, ready for the oncoming danger. His heart began beating faster. He closed his eyes for a second and the army was only a hundred metres in front of him, he let out a long animalistic scream. The rest of the soldiers did the same, brandishing their weapons. Tidus ran forward, spurred on by the adrenaline running through his veins.
Miriam heard Tidus shout and started to gallop forward as the foot soldiers ran onto the field and the Cavalry followed.
Tidus met the other army head on, slashing wildly. He stabbed at the enemy’s forces with angry power.
Miriam soon found the men that served King Laurence. She hacked at them, and they stabbed at her horse, she jumped off.
Tidus knew he should have stayed in the castle; his father would be furious and distraught when he found out. He backed up into a knight with a full covering helmet. The knight stood tall, postured femininely, his helmet had the tiniest slits in the visor to see out of and was wearing his family coat of arms on his shield.
Miriam saw through the prince’s disguise as soon as she turned around. She could only hope he did not see through hers. They only had a second to register each other before they saw other soldiers starting to attack them.
The battlefield became a mess of blood, guts and sweat as the warriors struggled against each other, neither side giving an inch. King Lucas looked out at the fighters, sighing. “Stay safe, my son.”
Tidus stayed near the effeminate knight he had noticed, realising that he was a powerful ally. In the meantime, Miriam was actually trying to get away from the Prince in case he noticed who she was. She killed the enemies who stood in her way, and shoved aside those in her own alliance. She didn’t know how many she killed or injured, she didn’t have time to note anything like that.
King Laurence looked at the battle field from his horse in the distance. “My brother…why do you not conform to the new order? There needn’t be such suffering, if you would only agree with me, Lucas.” He trotted around the fight, towards the castle.
Lucas walked out of the castle, seeing his brother approaching. They stood next to each other, watching the battle continue. “Your troops will not win, Laurence. You should simply call it off, order them to retreat.”
“We outnumber you, ten to one, brother.”
“Numbers are nothing compared to skill and you know that. Retreat or your men will be slaughtered.”
Laurence turned and started to move away, saying. “We won’t retreat, we won’t surrender. We will simply win, Lucas.”
Lucas smiled, walking in the opposite direction and whispering to himself. “Always so confident, brother. Yet you never kept your word.”
Miriam was being attacked from all sides by the swords, spears and axes of King Laurence’s army. She was barely able to stay on her feet, never mind block the attacks. Tidus tried to help her by slashing at the backs of their opponents, but he, too, was being hurt by the other men. Barely able to fend them off, he fell to the ground, winded by one of the powerful blows.
Hrethric had lost his horse, and was making his way through the bodies strewn over the ground. He saw the prince being attacked only yards away; he started running as fast as he could with his heavy, dented armour. He slashed, stabbed and swung at his attackers, until all of them were on the ground. Hrethric helped the prince up and noticed Miriam, who had fallen unconscious on the ground. He left her and helped Tidus away.
* * *
Hours later he battle ended. Neither side had won nor lost, the injured men lay groaning in pain beside their fallen comrades.
Miriam drew her last breath as she lay there, struggling to keep her eyes open. Her last thought was of how she had never said good-bye to her parents, her family, and her friends.
Tidus was lucky that Hrethric had taken him away from the fight. He barely survived the ordeal.
Hrethric himself had rejoined the fray, only to be struck down. His family left the kingdom.
King Lucas died weeks later, slashing his throat open with a dagger. Tidus took the throne reluctantly, remembering his father’s words.
Laurence visited his nephew once, giving him an apology for what he had done. Tidus would have none of it, and warned him to never return to the kingdom. Laurence left, stricken with guilt.
No-one ever found out what Miriam had done, as a mass grave was made and the bodies simply dumped. Tidus had only the slightest inkling of what had happened before trying to permanently blocking the memories from his mind.
THE END.
Ancient Armies
By Sarai McDonald
She looked over the battlements. Far in the distance she could see the banners of the approaching army. The young servant girl stood beside the prince, holding his wrought iron helmet in her fearfully anxious hands. “Will that be all, sire?” She asked, her voice not betraying her fear. Prince Tidus nodded, fastening his armour properly. The servant, Miriam, ran back into the castle, as the Prince smiled. “And now it begins…” He pulled down his visor and walked confidently back into the castle.
Miriam staggered into the kitchens, breathlessly telling everyone what she had seen. “They’re here,” She panted. “King Laurence’s Army approaches. What shall we do?” She asked no-one in particular as the kitchen doors swung open. “We shall take up arms.” There stood Hrethric, the captain of the guard.
Tidus paced the throne room floor, while his father, King Lucas, watched him. “How can you do this?! I must lead the army into battle; I will not leave my men to fight alone!” The prince griped, waving his arms around angrily.
Hrethric swung a leg over his trusty steed, settling into the saddle. His armour was dented and rusty in places, having seen as many battles as the old man himself. Miriam stood at his side, hugging herself in fear. Hrethric spurred the horse’s sides, trotting out of the stables.
King Lucas raised a hand to stop his son’s rant. His deep, booming voice filled the hall. “My son, you are the only heir to my throne, and this kingdom. If you were to be killed in the battle then there would be total anarchy. Now go, you may watch from the battlements with the archers.” Tidus stormed out of the room in a rage.
Miriam looked around the stables, seeing nothing but a single old stallion and a suit of armour beside it. The helmet on the armour had the tiniest slits for eyes. Perfect for hiding who you are…
Tidus would not-No! Could not-leave his men to fight alone in the heat of battle. He had a sudden thought and started to walk towards the stables, trying not to look too suspicious.
Miriam checked that the sword was safely sheathed at her side, before pulling the visor down in front of her face. She mounted the dark horse and started out of the stable door.
Tidus changed his armour to an old set that no-one would notice, as they would his royal armour. He then walked out of the castle and joined the foot soldiers on the battlefield.
Miriam met the group of Cavalry-men, stopping her horse and drawing her sword. She had never been onto the battlefield before, no woman had, other than to carry away the wounded. She stood beside the soldiers and looked into the distance once more, seeing a large greyish crowd move across the land towards their army.
Tidus wished he had his horse to steady him; he stood at the front of the army, ready for the oncoming danger. His heart began beating faster. He closed his eyes for a second and the army was only a hundred metres in front of him, he let out a long animalistic scream. The rest of the soldiers did the same, brandishing their weapons. Tidus ran forward, spurred on by the adrenaline running through his veins.
Miriam heard Tidus shout and started to gallop forward as the foot soldiers ran onto the field and the Cavalry followed.
Tidus met the other army head on, slashing wildly. He stabbed at the enemy’s forces with angry power.
Miriam soon found the men that served King Laurence. She hacked at them, and they stabbed at her horse, she jumped off.
Tidus knew he should have stayed in the castle; his father would be furious and distraught when he found out. He backed up into a knight with a full covering helmet. The knight stood tall, postured femininely, his helmet had the tiniest slits in the visor to see out of and was wearing his family coat of arms on his shield.
Miriam saw through the prince’s disguise as soon as she turned around. She could only hope he did not see through hers. They only had a second to register each other before they saw other soldiers starting to attack them.
The battlefield became a mess of blood, guts and sweat as the warriors struggled against each other, neither side giving an inch. King Lucas looked out at the fighters, sighing. “Stay safe, my son.”
Tidus stayed near the effeminate knight he had noticed, realising that he was a powerful ally. In the meantime, Miriam was actually trying to get away from the Prince in case he noticed who she was. She killed the enemies who stood in her way, and shoved aside those in her own alliance. She didn’t know how many she killed or injured, she didn’t have time to note anything like that.
King Laurence looked at the battle field from his horse in the distance. “My brother…why do you not conform to the new order? There needn’t be such suffering, if you would only agree with me, Lucas.” He trotted around the fight, towards the castle.
Lucas walked out of the castle, seeing his brother approaching. They stood next to each other, watching the battle continue. “Your troops will not win, Laurence. You should simply call it off, order them to retreat.”
“We outnumber you, ten to one, brother.”
“Numbers are nothing compared to skill and you know that. Retreat or your men will be slaughtered.”
Laurence turned and started to move away, saying. “We won’t retreat, we won’t surrender. We will simply win, Lucas.”
Lucas smiled, walking in the opposite direction and whispering to himself. “Always so confident, brother. Yet you never kept your word.”
Miriam was being attacked from all sides by the swords, spears and axes of King Laurence’s army. She was barely able to stay on her feet, never mind block the attacks. Tidus tried to help her by slashing at the backs of their opponents, but he, too, was being hurt by the other men. Barely able to fend them off, he fell to the ground, winded by one of the powerful blows.
Hrethric had lost his horse, and was making his way through the bodies strewn over the ground. He saw the prince being attacked only yards away; he started running as fast as he could with his heavy, dented armour. He slashed, stabbed and swung at his attackers, until all of them were on the ground. Hrethric helped the prince up and noticed Miriam, who had fallen unconscious on the ground. He left her and helped Tidus away.
* * *
Hours later he battle ended. Neither side had won nor lost, the injured men lay groaning in pain beside their fallen comrades.
Miriam drew her last breath as she lay there, struggling to keep her eyes open. Her last thought was of how she had never said good-bye to her parents, her family, and her friends.
Tidus was lucky that Hrethric had taken him away from the fight. He barely survived the ordeal.
Hrethric himself had rejoined the fray, only to be struck down. His family left the kingdom.
King Lucas died weeks later, slashing his throat open with a dagger. Tidus took the throne reluctantly, remembering his father’s words.
Laurence visited his nephew once, giving him an apology for what he had done. Tidus would have none of it, and warned him to never return to the kingdom. Laurence left, stricken with guilt.
No-one ever found out what Miriam had done, as a mass grave was made and the bodies simply dumped. Tidus had only the slightest inkling of what had happened before trying to permanently blocking the memories from his mind.
THE END.
