Superman

The march was growing tiresome. Part of Gerald wished he were a more adapt rider, so he might let a steed take the trek for him. They had Calvary though… they had everything.

Knights, Infantry, Paladins, Archers, Mortars, Cavalry, spearmen, and even one regiment of ballista were joining this skirmish. Gerald of Heironedon had been given the order- Take Raven Meadow. The Dark legion had a strong advance base set up there, and may attack any day.

Not if WE attack first

That was the plan, anyway. Though the men were confident, Gerald himself was concerned. This could very well be a suicide mission. Intelligence on the base was low, and they could be sure the inhabitants would be on their way to meet them. The small army had made no attempt to hide themselves.

Heironedon was honourable. They would fight a fair fight.

"Gerald" Rupert jogged up to his friend's side. They were an unlikely pair, but had been friends most of their lives. More precisely, twenty years.

Gerald wore full plate armour, and favoured a sword, whereas Rupert's size caused him to wear chain mail. He was a big fellow, and swung a hammer at least half his massive size.

Looks meant little on the battlefield. What mattered was how well you fought.

"What's wrong, Rupert?" The warrior asked. Though he normally kept Rupert close by, the scale of the mission had led the heironedenion to assign his friend as a troop's leader. Gerald was in charge here, and had a troop of 25 men directly beside him at all times. Rupert a troop of 20.

Every leader, like Rupert, was responsible for their own troop. And every leader answered to HIM.

"Nothing, Gerald" he panted, setting back into a walking speed "Except some of the lads are asking me where you stand with this Half-elf" he chuckled "I told 'em to shut their damned mouths. Wondered what you wanted me to say"

"I don't want you to say ANYTHING, Rupert!" Gerald said, his temper rising "I'm so sick of this. Why can't you accept her?"

Ellen had been the second in command of Ecclesia's armies, but upon learning of her being a half elf, she was banished. Half elves were dark elves. In layman's terms, evil elves. But Ellen was different.

Despite what Rupert thought, it wasn't her beauty, or the basic sex appeal that had led Gerald to speak for her. As such, he had taken her and the few troops loyal to her from Ecclesia into his own unit. They were becoming close, but it was purely professional.

If anything, maybe that worried Rupert more. Maybe he thought he was being replaced

"The real question is, why you can't accept what she is?" he placed a giant hand on Gerald's shoulder "She's a DARK ELF, Gerald. She could be a spy"

"We have seen her fighting for Ecclesia, officer" Gerald spat "Quite frankly, you're out of line. You are both first class officers, but if you make me choose, you won't like the result!"

Rupert's face darkened "What's happened to you, Gerald? 20 years! Then this half elf comes along, shows off a few good looks, and you'd abandon me?"

"If you make me choose, you abandon yourself" Gerald was almost shouting now "Back to your post, Soldier!"

Rupert turned and left, muttering to himself. Gerald didn't regret what he had said. This was jealousy, pure and simple, and it was unfounded jealousy. He had no personal interest in this woman.

Who am I kidding?

Gerald sighed, remembering how he had fought to remove the fellow Paltor from Ellen's troop. He was a ladies man, and a legendary archer. Nevertheless, he failed. Ellen's old officers from her days in command, Paltor, and Ebbard (a magus of the sixth circle) had remained loyal, and fought by her side.

"We are here milord" a voice from behind informed him

"ELLEN! ASSIST RUPERT! TAKE DOWN THE ARCHERS!"

"Yes sir!" Ellen replied, her voice shaking "WITH ME"

Paltor stayed by Ellen's side, running into the woods with the troop. They were doubling around behind the dark legions forces to take down the archers hiding behind their men.

"Ellen, do you think maybe we underestimated these bastards?" he asked sweetly

"THINK?" Ebbard looked like he would cry "Orcs! Dark Elves! Giant scorpions and this is just what's ARRIVED!"

"Calm down Ebbard!" Ellen ordered

They broke away from the woods and Paltor took a moment to survey the battlefield. The archers ahead continued to rain fire down on the knights to the west, whom were in fierce combat with Orcs and dark elves alike.

Paltor started for a moment at the Giant scorpions that were roaming the battlefield, marvelling at their power. How Ecclesia or Heironedon had spent so many years defeating them was a mystery to him.

My turn

"No…." Ellen cried

Paltors eyes drifted to his commander line of sight. The place where Gerald's troop HAD been was now home to a Scorpion, and the knights were struggling not to collapse.

"SHE ELF! THIS IS MUTINY!" Rupert somehow roared over the carnage, his unit slaughtering dark elven archers.

"Help him Ellen" Paltor told his friend

"What about you?" Ebbard asked, visibly shaken

Out the door just in time
Head down the 405
got to meet the new boss by 8 am

"I'm gonna go help our gracious commander" he grinned toothily "Catch you later"

Before Ellen had a chance to object, Paltor was off, dodging around humans, Orcs, and elves alike trying to avoid combat.

He didn't deny his feelings for Ellen, but right now… Gerald needed help. And Ellen wouldn't be able to handle his getting hurt.

As he grew closer he snapped his bow up from his back and pulled an arrow back on the string, taking careful aim.

When the creatures head turned, Paltor realised his grip and watched the arrow sail through the air and meet its target. The beast shrieked, but kept on fighting.

The phone rings in the car
the wife is working hard
she's running late tonight again

Paltor kept running, drawing his large sword now, and brought it down on the creature's side as soon as he was in range, but for all the good it did he should have punched it.

Well
I know what I've been told

The force of the scorpions shell knocked him back in what was effectively the strike equivalent of suicide, and he fell to the floor

You got to work to feed the soul
but I can't do this all on my own

"PALTOR" the commander roared "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

"Currently, standing up" he answered back, climbing to his feet. The Creature must have noticed the attack at least, because he turned to the warrior, lashing out with one of his pincers, which Paltor only narrowly avoided

No, I know I'm no Superman
I'm no Superman

In compensation, Gerald brought his sword down through the monstrosity's skull, and let it thrash around for a moment before taking his sword back and watching it fall, dead

"I gave you a DIRECT ORDER!" Gerald cried "You were supposed to help Rupert!" His gave turned to the direction of the archers, most of whom were dead now.

"You gave ELLEN the order, sir" Paltor winked and turned, reaching for his bow, and fired a quick shot at the battle raging on behind him, taking down an Orc whom, for all intent and purposes, would have soon executed some poor knight

"So tell me, Ranger, what are you doing here?"

"Saving you"

"But I saved you" Gerald pointed out, motioning to the Scorpion

"Then we're even" he winked.

Paltor couldn't help but compare Gerald to a lion. All that pride, that pent up rage, the hunger for battle, and the responsibility he naturally felt towards his pack.

Blond hair, too

Gerald opened his mouth to argue, but went silent with the rest of those Fighters whom had disengaged. Paltor turned to face the direction of the awed silence. Several huge black creatures flew towards them

Wyverns!

"We can talk later, milord" Paltor called, catching sight of a regiment of archers in combat

"Wait!" Gerald called "We don't have time. I'll bring my units in to assist the Archers, and then you assume command of them. Have them withdraw and get those damned dragons!"

Paltor smiled. He loved battle "SIR YES SIR"

Rushing alongside the captain, he drew his sword and plunged it deep into the bloated stomach of a yellow Orc, his blade now far more bloodied "ARCHERS! WITHDRAW!"

As he turned and left the battle, he was followed by maybe six or seven men. Without wasting any time he took the bow from his back and took careful aim

"FIRE ON THE WYVERNS!" he ordered. The archers obliged, and opened fire, flailing around in the air wildly. Paltor grinned widely, having struck one in the neck himself

"You're in charge" he told one of the random men, and left to find his friends. He spotted them in the midst of a battle with dark elven troops, and took careful aim with his bow, landing an arrow in the knee of a creature about to strike Ellen. She spun around and finished the job

You've got your love online
you think you're doing fine
but you're just plugged into the wall

Preparing another arrow, he watched Ellen carefully, unwilling for her to learn of his presence. She's get pissed at his 'charity'. All of a sudden Ebbard staff lit like a beacon, just to the left of Ellen, but then went out as the young magus fell to his knees. He didn't look seriously hurt, but only thanks to the arrow from Paltor to his attacker.

And that deck of tarot cards
won't get you very far
There ain't no hand to break your fall

Paltor smiled and privately complimented his aim once more. Surveying the battlefield, it was clear they and won. The few remaining troops were being mopped up, and the last Wyvern fell.

Well
I know what I've been told

A sudden growl caught his attention, and he turned around. Maybe 10 seconds ride from his were a huge regiment of mounted Orcs

You got to know just when to fold

Paltor closed his eyes, a wave of nausea hitting him. This was it

"HEY! ECCLESIAN!"

But I can't do this all on my own

Paltor opened his eyes to see the Orcs turning in any direction to avoid rushing him. The answer was behind him. As though by magic, a troop of Spearmen, with the fellow Rupert at the helm, had materialized ready to impale them

"WAR 101" Rupert growled "When mounted soldiers approach you, you do NOT STAND STILL"

No, I know I'm no Superman
I'm no Superman

Paltor broke into a wide grin and caught sight of Ellen rushing towards him, her helmet off and a huge smile on her beautiful face.

Is this it…?

Paltor started shaking. War didn't scare him, but the idea of kissing the woman he loved did

She rushed directly past him. Paltor didn't need to turn to see her in Gerald's bloody arms. Rupert looked sour

You've crossed the finish line
Won the race but lost your mind
was it worth it after all?

Rupert sword and turned. Paltor followed

"What's wrong, big fella?"

Rupert had fire in his eyes "YOU DAMNED ECCLESIANS!" he spat at Paltors amour "When you're not off blaming some god for your mistakes, you're stealing away those that are important to us!"

Paltor shook his head, unable to resent the Heironedenion "Fact is, you do it as well. The woman I love is in HIS arms, and she shouldn't be"

Rupert's anger seemed to disappear, suddenly understanding the ranger.

I need you here with me
because love is all we need
just take a hold of the hand that breaks the fall

"I saved her life" Paltor complained, sitting down on the fallen scorpion close to him "Not Gerald"

Rupert sighed and sat beside him

Well I know what I've been told
Got to break free to break the mold

"I'm so sick of this fucking story!" Paltor snapped "I hope the writer's happy, 'because I sure ain't"

"Maybe the writer likes torturing us lad, or maybe he feels what he writes" Rupert shook his head

But I can't do this all on my own

Rupert stood and offered his hand "Come with me, we should get the boys home"

No I can't do this all on my own

Paltor smiled, hiding his pain "It would be a shame to deprive them of an excuse for a great deal of celebration" he added "We won" as he stood, following Rupert

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship

I know that I'm no Superman
I'm no Superman
I'm no Superman

Paltor didn't speak as he and Rupert passed their commanders in a passionate embrace.

Someday we'll be together
Someday
Someday we'll be together
Someday

"So how many did you kill?" Rupert asked, a grin on his face "I counted twelve"

"How many do Wyverns count for?"

"Seven" Rupert answered

Paltor concentrated "That makes seven…eight….ten…..I think"

Rupert laughed and slapped the Ranger on the back, as though they had been friends for years "I win!"

Paltor smiled, this time genuinely

I'm no Superman