A/N: This story was originally written as a oneshot and based around the lyrics of Wrong Side of Heaven by Five Finger Death Punch. I have since learned that this site no longer allows any lyrics to be present in fanfics - so since I have actually worked really hard on this I unfortunately have to remove the small portions of lyrics at the top of each chapter.
The story was inspired by the song however, and I recommend looking up at least the lyrics - it was originally one paragraph of the song for each chapter of the war.
I got to the end of it and realized that it was about 7000 words long so decided to break it up into chapters simply for easier reading. Yes, it is complete. It is 12 chapters long and I will post a new one every few days. It has a rough story line from the start of the war until the end as well as the aftermath for the mentioned characters. In terms of this timeline, Raoul is the only one who doesn't fit it as his section takes place while there are still killing devices. This wasn't changed because I felt it disrupted the flow of the story.
Chapter 1
Corus, Mid-March 456HE
The twenty-first year of the reign of Jonathan IV and Thayet, his Queen
Jon sighed as he heard a knock on the door of his private study first thing in the morning. He had spent yet another night at his desk, falling asleep just before dawn. He cleared his throat, "Enter."
Sir Myles entered with a grim look on his face and Jon knew that the news would not be good. Myles did not bother to bow, knowing that privately the king liked to keep life as simple as possible. He also took the liberty of taking a seat in front of the king's desk without being asked.
"It's serious, Jon."
"How serious?" Jon could feel a tension headache coming on, it was going to be a long day.
"Scanra officially has a new king. Maggur Rathhausak has united all of the clans under him." Jon saw how exhausted his old teacher and his official spymaster looked, the building tension within Scanra had Tortall's spy network working more overtime than usual.
"What does George say?" Surely his old friend would have added advice with his information, he usually did. And Jon usually took heed of it. The former king of thieves hadn't lasted this long for no reason.
"George says that it is officially war. We knew it would be, come summer. But we didn't think to be fighting large, co-ordinated and trained armies." There was a moments silence before Myles continued again.
"He also said that you should probably assemble your knights and your armies, ready to move north as soon as they are able." Jon only nodded absently, it was the only thing left to do.
"Can you please alert the messengers to gather the lords of my council? We need to move fast."
Myles nodded as he stood up with the difficulty that comes of old age, "I passed Raoul on the way here, coming to see you no doubt."
"That man has an uncanny sixth sense when trouble of any kind is involved. Thank you, and I will see you at the council meeting, let's say midday?"
Myles gave a final nod as he walked out.
The King's Council Meeting
King Jonathan looked around the table at the grim faces of his lords which included some of his closest friends and advisers.
Raoul, his ever loyal friend. The only one he had trusted to take on the King's Own Guard when Jonathan had to take up the throne after his father's death. Even though Raoul had hated him for it at the time, it had become his life over the past twenty or so years. Making his mark on such an elite force, changing Tortall one emergency situation at a time. Always a fighting man, but loyal to the bone and in charge of the most formidable force of fighters in the kingdom. He had sworn his sword, his life and his death to Jon the day they became friends as pages. As much as Jon appreciated it, he did not want another friend's death on his hands.
Buri, sitting beside him. His wife's protector in all things. Raoul's soul-mate. Fighter to the core as well, she would do anything to protect Thayet and her legacy which included Jon and Tortall by association. The Riders were probably the second most formidable force in the land and one of the most effective. Jon silently thanks the Goddess and Mithros for the day that he finally conceded to Thayet and Buri's proposal for the specialised force.
Myles, his wise old teacher who taught him so much more than history and the connotations of the Code of Chivalry. For the first time in his life Jon thinks that perhaps Myles was right all these years. The Code does ask too much of knights. It tells them that it is right and dutiful to go out there and kill for their country. To gladly give their lives in service to their liege lord, the king.
Gary, his cousin and his closest adviser. They grew up together, as close as brother's for neither had any to turn to. Always laughing, joking and somewhat reckless, Gary changed along with him when Jon had to take over the throne. He was one of the only people Jon confided to about the true nature of his father's death. Gary understood. He always understood. They both sacrificed so much together to keep the dream of Tortall alive.
Jon ran through all of the other faces of his council. Old or young, conservative and progressive. Finally, his gaze fell on the person to his right.
Alanna. Of course, George would have told her she was needed here. And she was. For so many reasons. Alanna was his best friend. His soul-mate. His right hand. They had laughed and loved and fought over the years. But that didn't change a thing. He had thought he lost her when he allowed Wyldon to put Keladry on probation and she refused to speak to him for nearly three years. It had been tough. Jon did not think that he could survive if he lost her. They were not lovers, had not been together in that way for over two decades. That did not affect how they were with each other, how much she truly meant to him.
All of the grim faces were looking at him. Waiting. He knew they were waiting.
He took one last look, at those who had been there for him over the years. Raoul, Buri, Gary, Myles. Alanna. He did not want to lose a single one of them. He did not want to lose a single one of his subjects. He did not want to do this.
But Jonathan was the king. And a king has to make hard choices.
He took a deep breath. Shutting the real Jonathan away once more.
"I officially declare war on Scanra and King Maggur."
As hard as the king tried to banish them, the same train of thought kept passing through his mind. The same thoughts which plagued him every time he had to make a hard decision. What have I done? Who have I become? Surely I am not to blame.
Please review so I know what you think! Although I wrote the bulk of this entire story in a matter of hours I have been working on it and editing it over and over again for quite a while. I am always looking to improve how I write, even though this story is pretty much done I do a lot of writing and can hopefully only get better.
Goddessxx
