Wergar
They came out of nowhere. The Lionguard. Their redcloaks flapping behind them as they walked. Moonbrand was in my hand without a second thought, the white blade gleaming in the sun's light. I knew that the castle meadow would become a place of blood and death. Looking out over the meadow's balcony, I saw the man who led the Redcloaks: Leopold the Lion. I saw his weapon. A two handed silver sword with silver runes. The Lion's armor was a gold plate with engravings. This bastard was responsible for many catastrophes. I knew exactly what he wanted: my head.
The Lion and his men had come days ago, forcing my men, family and myself to become prisoners in our own castle. Their strategy was simple, yet effective: force us to surrender or succumb to disease and starvation. Our food was running very low and all within the castle was hungry. I offered my food to those who needed it more. This couldn't go on much longer. I acted.
"Leopold," I called out to him. He and his men stopped at the end of the walk, waiting. "I know what you are here for. Too bad you won't get it."
"Hmm. Too bad your head is not what I came for." He began to transform, unleashing the Beast within. He wasn't spent as a human; honed muscles all over his body, almost no fat. The Lion was big. "Your crown and kingdom are mine!" He bellowed.
My transformation was quick and painless, the bones and tendons snapping and cracking into their new homes. I gave out a roar, alerting my men and Leopold's. The Wolfguard were highly trained men, dawning black armor with a silver wolf head over the heart. They ran to the castle's entrance and ordered the draw bridge to be lowered. The giant wooden bridge fell to the ground with a loud boom.
My Wolfguard and the Redcloaks met and began to fight. I knew my men would be more than enough for the Lion's. A bloody mist began to fill the air, falling to the wood. The material soaked up the blood, creating dark stains that would be difficult to clean out.
Our personal guard came to Amelie's side. I knew I would be fine, but my wife was no fighter. The guards black armor was shinning in the sun, showing a faint maroon color; there were already busy killing Redcloaks in the... The realization hit me like an Apelord's punch.
"Get Amelie out of here, now! I do not want her getting killed!" I cried to the men. The sound of battle was getting closer. It appears that I vastly underestimated the Lion's numbers. I was costing my men their lives.
"Yes, Your Majesty! You can count on us!" The reply came from the captain of the group. His word was just; the queen would be safe with him. "Your children will be taken with us as well, don't worry."
"Thank you," Amelie and I said together. My lupine eyes glowed with thanks. The captain nodded and turned to his solders. Giving the orders, Amelie was escorted away, but not before we embraced. We knew this could now possibly be the last time we saw one another.
"Be safe, my love," Amelie whispered in my ear. The guards quickly formed a circle around her and escorted her away. The cries of men could be heard echoing through out the castle and court meadow.
"I will, and we shall see each other again! This I swear!" I shouted out to her. I never broke a promise and I don't indent on starting. I returned my gaze to the hallway with the battle and ran toward it: my throne room.
During peaceful times, the throne room was calm and serene. The torches ran up and down the hall of the keep. Maps of the continent could be seen to the right, while faint aromas could be smelt and the same time, coming from the kitchen to the left. The throne itself was carved from stone. Serpents were etched into the rock; they spun around, making the arms and back, meeting in the middle above the seated. Within their widened jaws was a ruby the size of a human head. Now, it was a place of death and blood.
Upon entering, I saw that my men were outnumbered three to one. Jumping in, the Redcloaks fell back and in clumps. my claws and Moonbrand entering and leaving their bodies. The Wolfguard rejoiced in seeing me aid them. I always let them to battle, never faltering. With the King at their side, my men's spirit and morale rose immensely. Unfortunately, this slight distraction was long enough for two Redcloaks to run several of my men through.
I lunged at the duo, my claws, teeth and sword quickly rendering the villains dead. My teeth and claws came back red with their blood, my men avenged in an instant. I looked at my men and knelt beside the two. They took my paws in their hands and gave them a squeeze. Their strength was strong for dying humans.
"It was a pleasure... to fight beside you, my king..." one of the men said weakly. They have been though thick and thin with me, they bravery shown by them was enough to match my own. Red could be seen along the midsection of their armor; the life blood spilling quickly. The liquid took a maroon shade in the light around us.
"No," I replied sadly, "it was my pleasure to have fought along side you brave men." Their breathing began to become sporadic, catching in their throats. "We will beet again for that feast one day." I said as their spirits left with the final breath.
Taking one of the Wolfshead blades from their sides, I stood up, ready to bring these villains to their knees.
"Ready men?! It is time to repel this attack! Let us show this Catlord not to mess with the King and his people!" If I sounded selfish, I did not mean to. My men paid no attention to that, my words of repelling the invaders stirring them instead. I roared, signaling my Wolfguard. We ran toward the Redclaoks.
Swinging the two blades with ease, many of the Lion's men fell. Limbs flew, heads spun, and blood filled the air once again. It seemed to make me choke, forcing a gag from my lungs. Two silver swords attacked my back, making an X. I roared in pain, the blow forcing me to my knees. My guard came to my aid, quickly dispatching the attackers. I could feel the blood flow; the wound wept like a river, quickly covering m back with red.
"I'm alright," I stated to my guard, the pain was a continuous burning sensation. "We have to keep pushing! These bastards will not win!!" The Wolfguard knew my limitations, this would not keep me down. What I did not count on was the pain that followed; it felt sickening. I tried to stand, but was forced to the floor. I pushed it to the back of my mind. I would not allow it to keep me out. But it was easier said than done to ignore this pain.
"Sir, look!" One of my men saw something admits the crowd of the dead and battle. A dozen of my men were fighting Leopold. They were brave in battling an opponent far superior to them. That fact, most likely in their minds, did not stop them from trying. One by one, the Wolfguard fell to the Lion's might. His blade and claws were slick with death. A couple of them got lucky and got sword marks, but they wouldn't do much good. Their weapons weren't blessed with silver. I knew what needed to be done.
"Leopold, here I am!!" I shouted to the monstrosity. "Here is the Wolf! But I won't be going down so easily to you, I refuse to!" The Lion looked up from killing the last Wolfguard around him. His eyes narrowed, the pale yellow glowed like the sun. A cruel smile smeared across his face, almost carving it in two.
"I do not have to fight, dog," the beast bellowed to me. "You are already beaten! Look!" The great silver sword pointed to my left. I followed its deadly point, straight like an arrow. My eyes widened with horror, my heart skipping a beat and nearly flying out my chest. In a Redcloaks's hands was Amelie, the guards around them were dead. Another stood at her left, his deadly, and illegal, sword placed at the hip. The blade entered and swiped upward all the way to her rib cage.
"NOOOOOO!!!!!!"
*************
I awoke, yelling 'no' with all my might. My voice could be heard echoing around me.
