The legend of the three
chapter 4 A great loss
It had been a day since the crimson mercenaries had been attacked in the dead of night and they had still marched out to answer the contract they had received.
"what happened with all those men in cloaks that attacked the camp" Takeda said as he looked at Asger to his side "i don't know i got up to relive myself and i saw a group of men surrounding Baldwin" asger said thinking back to what had happened.
"he's lucky you were awake wait when i think abut it a lot of people are lucky you were awake you gave baldwin the chance to sound the alarm" Takeda said as he patted Asger on the back.
"i don't need thanks off you skinny man" Asger said as he shrugged takeda's hand off his back "i don't need thanks" he thought as he felt the corners on his mouth into a smile.
"so who do think they were" Takeda said shaking Asger from his thoughts "they can't have been bandits they wouldn't have the stones to attack a camp with over seventy men in it even if they were sleeping" he continued.
"i don't know all i know is there dead and gone" Asger said before Takeda spoke again "i think i know who it was".
"what" Asger said as he spun to Takeda and grabbed him "why haven't you told Catherine if you know who attacked us" he continued as he stood there shaking Takeda causing others to look at them confused.
"i don't need to" Takeda said casing Asger to stop and let go of him "what do you mean" asger said with suspicion in his voice.
"Catherine has already worked it out" Takeda said as he looked Asger in the eye with full confidence in his words.
"fine i take you words for who was it" Asger said relenting a bit as they began walking again with the company "you remember the young noble who hired us last time" Takeda said making asger think back to Crecy.
"that young one Catherine rode off to meet" Asger said as takeda confirmed his guess "yep the one".
"how do you know" Asger said with suspicion in his voice as he turned him sharp eyes on him "calm down it was when we were in town after Catherine left the meeting with the noble i over heard him and somebody else taking from one of the open windows" Takeda said.
"tho what they said goes again my moral code" Takeda said as he clenched his fist "what did they said" asger said curios as he had never seen takeda show rage towards a person.
"it went… kill her men and bring her in chains were ill tear that amour off her and show her how a woman should be treated" Takeda said this caused Asger to have similar but less controlled reaction.
"ill kill him ill rip him in half" Asger growled as he walked only to stop when he heard takeda speak "well get in line no man has the right to even think about doing that a woman like that even if Catherine could wipe the floor with him".
"it seem the skinny man does have respect for women" Asger said as he put his fist out towards Takeda. Takeda saw this and copied bringing there fists together "if the english don't get him we will if a chance ever come up we'll punish him" Takeda said as they brought there fist back a little before bumping them before they dropped there arm and continued walking an new understanding about each other achieved.
(at the front of the company)
"my lady what do you plan to do when we get there" Richard said as he rode next to Catherine looking at her wondering why she was thinking.
"i will complete the contract for one and then see how fast that boy can run when i come after him" Catherine said as clenched her fists on the reigns of her horse.
"my lady i feel the same way that he must pay but to attack a noble is a death sentence and quick one at that if he's in a french war camp" Richard said as he tried to dissuade Catherine from doing anything when they reached the camp.
"Richard i don't take slights lightly and i refused to allow the butcher of my men in there beds when they had no chance to fight back" Catherine said as she looked at him with hard eyes.
"it pains me to say this but it was only three men" Richard said with a cold logical voice as he steeled his features and waited for Catherine wrathful response.
"THREE MEN THREE COMRADES BUTCHERED AS THEY SLEEP" Catherine shouted before going back to her normal volume when she saw the men watching her "we carry the dreams of are fallen and i refuse to allow them to die in such a pitiful way" she continued.
"i know my lady but don't do anything rash don't let these three mens sad death lead to the deaths of everybody here" Richard said as Catherine looked down in though.
"please my lady you are what holds the company together look at them they all crave revenge and if they see you draw your sword to somebody then they will satisfy that need for vengeance on any and all who are round them" Richard said as Catherine looked behind her to see the company with tension round them each with the look that demanded revenge.
"fine but i won't promise anything he's a bastard that needs to be put down" Catherine said as she looked up as they began to clear the forest as the camp came into view.
"the camp seems a bit small" Catherine said her voice laced with worry as Richard looked and agreed with her "yes i know my lady".
"whose that" Richard thought as he spotted a large group of people waiting at the edge of the camp but as they got closer he noticed "fuck its the noble" Richard thought as he turned his horse so that he was close enough to grab the reins of Catherine's horse.
"what rich…" Catherine sated before she looks in front of her and realised why he had moved closer "that little bastard" Catherine thought as she looked at the young nobles arrogant smirk.
"ahh I'm so please you made it" the noble said never losing his smirk as Richard stopped Catherine's horse a couple of meters away from him.
"i heard you had some trouble at you camp such a shame" the noble continued as he looked at Catherine relishing in the anger coming off of Catherine.
"i'll kill him pull him off his horse and tear him in half lets see him smile then" Catherine thought as she tried to move only for Richard to look at her and keep his steel grip on the reins of her horse.
as Catherine looked back at the noble she took a deep breath before talking "yes nothing we couldn't handle" Catherine said with a strained voice as she fought to hold the rage in her voice her check.
"ahh yeas i forgot the great crimson mercenaries are never in trouble" the noble said as he began waving his arms around gesturing to the men behind him.
"remember Crecy they were fine then they ran away and had the gall to come asking payment for losing the battle" he continued as the men behind him began to laugh as he continued to gesture.
"little bastard" Catherine said in a low tone as she began to start shacking in anger as she watched the noble insult the crimson mercenaries by telling lies.
"this is gonna get out of hand" Richard thought as he looked at the he watched the noble continue to antagonise Catherine and the men.
"i have to calm Catherine down" Richard thought as he turned to her and saw the men behind them had come forward and stood opposite the french soldiers giving them looks of absolute hatred.
just as Richard was about to say something he was stopped by Catherine who spoke "this coming from a man who is too scared to fight somebody face to face, a man who has to hire cut-throats to kill his betters in there sleep" she said as her rage began to rise.
this caused the noble to turn round wit fury covering his face "HOW DARE" he screamed as his men stopped laughing and went silent as they watched to see what their lord would do.
"YES I DARE" Catherine shouted back as she let go of the control on her anger as Richard gripped her horses reins even tighter to the point where if he were to move his hand he would have tore the reins off the horse.
"YOU BITCH HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO A MAN LIKE THAT" the noble screamed as he drew his sword causing Catherine to react and to draw her sword half way out of the sheath before stopping.
"dam" Richard thought as he looked around to see the french soldiers with there weapons ready and the company mirroring them staring a tense stand off each side waiting for the other to start.
"Catherine don't ,you draw that sword and you sentence us all to death look around" Richard said making Catherine look around seeing more french come running out of the camp swelling the numbers of men behind the noble. she then looked back to her men seeing them all glancing at her waiting for her to draw her sword fully and giving them the signal.
"calm,calm,calm" Catherine thought as she took several deep breath before sheathing her sword fully and preparing to turn round only to hear the noble say something that threw her into a rage.
"should have told them to kill you instead" with there words Catherine spun round and drew her sword as the crimson mercenaries got ready to charge only for a voice to ring out between the two groups.
"STAND DOWN IN THE NAME OF THE KING" both the noble and Catherine turned to the voice only for the noble to go pale as a man approached them on horse back.
as he got closer Catherine got a better look at him he was a tall man with blonde hair tied in a ponytail that went to the middle of his shoulder with sharp calculative eyes and a fair face. he was clothed in a blue tunic with a green belt and a short blue cloak over his shoulders with the only amour he wore being a pair of gauntlet and greaves.
"what is going on here" he said as he stopped his horse between Catherine and the noble. the noble spoke first "this vagabond and her group tried to force there way into are camp the…." the noble went silent as the man raised his arm and then looked to Catherine and said "speak".
"I'm the commander of the crimson mercenaries and I've been paid to fight he's my employer but he need to be punished for the actions he's committed he…" she would of continued but like he had done before he held his hand up and tuned back to the noble.
"go back to your position now"the man said as the noble turned and scuttled away his men in tow "you mercenary leader" the man said as the turn to Catherine as the french dispersed back into the camp.
"my name is Catherine and these are the ninety two strong member of the crimson mercenaries" Catherine said as she waited for him to talk.
"i am marshal to the french king leader of this army my name is Arthur de richemount" he said as he inspected the crimson mercenaries.
"good i can use you lot, you work for that man so you work for me" Arthur said as he pulled a map from his saddle bag and pointed to four places on the map.
"you are of noble birth, you know how to read look at this" he said sending Catherine's thoughts racing "how could he tell that" Catherine thought as he directed her attention to the map in his hands.
"calm yourself this is a battlefield your birth makes no difference here" Arthur said as he pointed to four locations "your company is just the right size to scout so go to theses positions and drive any english out".
"i have to finish my contract" Catherine said as she looked at him as he pull out some parchment and a quill and wrote something and handed it to her.
"whats this" she said as she examined it then realised what it was "this is a contract" she said in shock as she looked at Arthur who's face betrayed nothing.
"you won't abandon a contract even with that man as your client admirable but i need to make use of a small force like yours to scout and destroy the small parts of the english army that were chasing that have strayed from the main army" Arthur said as he once agin sowed her the map.
"take your men here" he said as he pointed to a part of the map before taking his finger across a part f the map "and wipe any english past this line".
"yes my lord" Catherine said as she watched him turn his horse and ride off back toward the camp from where he appeared.
"so what are we to do my lady" Richard said as he looked at Catherine waiting for her orders he didn't wait long.
"we have a second contract" Catherine said with a smile as she passed the parchment to Richard causing his eyes to widen as he read the contract.
"signed Arthur de richmount marshal of the french king" Richard said in surprise as he handed the contract back "a marshal leading an army" Richard said middle surprised.
"what do you mean" Catherine said as she looked to Richard to explain what he had said "a marshal is somebody of common birth that has risen to that post by there great deeds" Richard said shocking Catherine making her look to where she had seen him ride off.
"a man of common birth leading a army of french nobles that must be hard" Catherine said as she thought back to the young noble and how he acted to those he thought lower than him.
"we must be going lets make camp then march out once camp is made bring baldwin,asger and takeda to my tent" Catherine said as she turned her horse and began to ride towards where they would set up camp.
"its time to test them"
(half an hour later in Catherine's tent)
"my lady I've brought them" Richard said as he entered Catherine's tent followed behind by Baldwin, Asger and finally Takeda "so this is were the magic happens well Catherine you sure are ambitious three men at once" Takeda said before Asger smacked him onto of the head.
"think with your brain for once this is important" asger said as he shook his head while baldwin let out a short laugh at the antics of the pair.
before they could continue a cough got there attention "i brought the three of you here for a reason" Catherine said as the three of them gave her there full attention.
"we have been given a second contract to fulfil" Catherine said as takeda interrupted "so we don't have to deal with that bastard".
"no we will still finish his contract we've never abandoned a contract before and were not starting now" Catherine said with a tone that said it was finally and nor up for debate.
"the man leading the french army has need of a small forces to deal with the english soldiers that have broken off from the main army" Catherine said as the three of them listen in silence as she then gestured to the map of the table in the middle of her tent that she was stood behind.
"from what we have gathered the french have to english from Crecy on the run after they left the safety of there territory to try and move through french lands to link up with another english army that was destroyed before they could reach them" Catherine said as she pointed to the areas where they believe the english to be.
"we are tasked with killing any english who cross this line" Catherine said as drew a line with her finger over a area of the map "but if they escape you you are to send them running back towards where the main army is" she continued.
"what Asger" Catherine said as she looked up at Asger who had a confused look on his face "why are we letting them escape back to there army and not chasing them down" he said as Catherine smiled "so he noticed something is going on in the bigger picture and Takeda doesn't seem that far behind in noticing" she though.
the plan isn't to attack the english straight away the man leading the french wants to wear them down and make them surrender and if they don't then obliterate them on a field he chose" Catherine said as they all took this on and bean to see the whole plan.
"this man has planed a battle that hasn't even happened yet dam" Baldwin said as he looked at the map "so why are we here then" he continued.
"well the area we have to cover is large so i can't march the whole company out as one and hope to hit all english crossing the line" she said as they all nodded in agreement.
"so I'm going to divide the company into four groups and attack all the groups that try to escape" Catherine said shocking them but Asger and Takeda more so.
"you two proved that you can get men to follow you at Crecy nows your chance to prove to me you can lead men into battle" Catherine said as she looked them both in the eyes.
"the three of you will take twenty men each baldwin go here block this path" she said as she pointed to a part of the map "yes boss" Baldwin said as he looked at the area she had pointed to.
"takeda go here and ambush the english in the trees" Catherine said as she pointed to another point on the map which showed trees "got it" Takeda said as he placed his hands behind his head.
"Asger i want you here clear out any english that are left here" Catherine said as she pointed to a third point on the map "finally i got it no english will be left standing" Asger said as he clenched his fist informant of her.
"i'll send a rider with each of you they will act as messengers" Catherine said as she gestured to the map for a final time "i will be here with my knights taking any who get past you three" she counted before stepping back from the map.
"now go give the english hell" Catherine said as they all left the tent to gather there men and march out.
"so my lady your testing them" Richard said as he entered the tent after the others had left "i need to know for sure" Catherine said in response.
"Richard stay here and guard the camp i can't be sure he won't be back to try and cause more trouble" Catherine said as she began placing her armour on.
"yes my lady" Richard said as he left the tent as Catherine changed into her amour.
(an hour later with Baldwin)
"alright boys form up" Baldwin shouted as he looked around at the pass he was meant to hold. the pass he was defending was wide enough to allow twelve men to stand side beside in it.
"right this pass in the only way for them to get past us were gonna hold it" baldwin shouted as he got roars of approval. he was about to tell his men to rest when he heard a deep rumbling in the ground.
"what the" he thought as two of his men came running "the english are coming" they shouted as Baldwin and his men stood up and readied for a fight.
"what is that" Baldwin thought as he continued to hear the rumbling that was making his men start looking for the source. the mystery was solve instantly when they saw the english appear in front of them.
"oh fuck me" Baldwin said as the english began to emerge from the trees "thats no small force" he thought as he stared at the men in front of him.
"theres must be more than sixty of them" Baldwin heard from behind him. baldwin knew he would stand no chance in the open so he did the only thing he could.
"SHIELD WALL" he shouted as his men moved there colossal tower shields in front of them and lined up as Baldwin looked through the gap at the english who had broken into a desperate charge towards them.
"HOLD"he shouted as he watched they storm towards them none mass.
"HOLD" he shouted again as the english grew closer to them like a pack of rabid dogs
"HOLD" he shouted a third time as the english were mere meters away from them.
"BRACE" he shouted as he and his men dropped there stance a bit and put there bodies full force behind there shields and then with a crash the english smashed into the shield wall pushing the wall back a couple of inches.
"HOLD MEN NOW SWORDS THROUGH" Baldwin shouted as the men in the shield wall stabbed there sword though the gaps in the wall piercing the english inform of them before closing the gaps.
"rider go ride for help tell them to come quick" Baldwin shouted as he strained to hold the line "yes sire just hold on ill get help" the horseman shouted as he spurred his horse and rode for help.
"don't worry I'm not getting killed any time soon"
(with Asger)
"were are they" Asger said as one of his men came running "there not to far ahead of us they have stopped to rest" he said as Asger drew his sword and short axe.
"come men valhalla awaits the brave" Asger shouted as he he ran off in the direction of the english with the men running after him.
"come on men a man gives battle his all and leaves his fate to the gods" Asger roared as he looked back at the men behind him "come lets tell the english were here" he continued before letting out a roar.
his men watched it and then one of them followed suit and soon all of them were letting out there own roars as they ran through the trees towards the english.
whether Asger had planned it or nor there roars were doing more than motivating them ahead of them the english were terrified.
"what is that" on of the english screamed as them continued to hear the roars from all directions "a bear , a wolf a…." the solder froze as from the trees he saw something.
"MONSTER" he screamed as he fell to the ground as he counted to back away maligning more turn to wee he was looking.
"WHAT THE HELL IS IT" another shouted as from the trees they saw something come storming out of the it was a giant shape of a beast.
the shadow crossed the space between them in no time with one swing it cleaved a man in two "RUN RUN" one of the english screamed as the shadow moved its other arm driving something deep into the man chest.
"WAIT ITS A MAN"one of the english shouted as he got a good look at the shadow it was asger "ahhhhh come on" Asger roared as his men came rushing out of the trees massacring the terrified english.
"ahhhhhhhahah" Asger shouted as he swung left and right cutting apart men as he went as he watched his men finishing the last of the english.
"WARRIORS WE CAME WE FOUGHT WE WON" Asger shouted as his men stood round him roared with him.
"Asger commander asger" a voice shouted causing Asger and his men to stop and look as a man came galloping on his horse.
"what wrong why are you here" Asger said as the man pointed in the direction he came from and said "Baldwin is under attack by sixty men and can't win on his own".
"right men were moving to help baldwin come on" Asger said as he began running towards where the horse man had pointed.
"hold on I'm coming"
(with Takeda)
"hold" Takeda said as he knelt down and held his hand up signalling for his men to stop as he put his hand to hi ear as he listened for something.
"the english are head of us" Takeda said as he took a deep breath before surveying the area. there were large trees that made up the forest "big enough to hide a man thats it" takeda thought.
"okay five men go that way and five that way hide behind the trees" Takeda said as his men looked confused before they went off and hid behind the trees.
"now the rest of you move back and get behind the trees" Takeda said as he took the remaining ten and moving back and hiding behind the trees.
"now we wait" Takeda said as he took a deep breath and closes his eyes and he waited.
"commander" one of the men said as he looked at takeda in confusion "wait and listen" he said as the man stopped and listened as hard as he could and then he heard it the march of men.
"how" the man said as takeda put his finger to his lips as he smiled and closes his eyes again as the english grew closer.
"fuckin french can't leave us alone" one said as they moved closer to takeda and his men "i know but what can we do the prince is gonna get us out of here" the other said as they entered the u formation Takeda had made by hiding his men behind the trees.
"i know bu…."he never got to finish as Takeda spun round from behind the tree slicing he man across the face killing him as he cut the others belly open before turning both his blades on the one behind them before stopping as he looked forwards as his men flew out of the trees catching the english unaware and they were killed before they could fight back.
"and thats that" Takeda said as he watched his men finished off the English " well done lads" he shouted as he smiled before he suddenly turned his head and started walking in a random direction.
"commander whats wrong" one of the men said as he raised his hand silencing them "theres a battle going on near by come" Takeda shouted as he ran off towards the fighting he heard.
"I'm on my way"
(back with Baldwin)
"HOLD MEN HOLD" Baldwin shouted as he looked to his sides to see his men being pushed back"come on guys where are you" he thought as he dug his feet into the ground to try and hold his position.
"come on lads just a little longer" Baldwin shouted as he tried to encourage his men but it was no use they were tired and could barley hold here shields in place.
"sir we can't hold" one of his men shouted as he desperately tried to hold his ground against the english onslaught.
"boy its going to be alright we just ha…." Baldwin said before stopping mid way as a spear pierced the mans throat though one of the gaps.
"noooo" Baldwin roared as his shield wall began to collapse as english ran through the gap cutting down any who stood in there way.
"FALL BACK" Baldwin shouted as he tried to move back with his men but it was a massacre his men were tried and the lucky ones who could move could only watch as there comrades were butchered.
"fuck" Baldwin thought as he looked at the men next to him it was only his and four others. he started at the english as they slow walked towards them expecting surrender but thats not what they got what they got was Baldwin and his men shouting and chanting as they slammed their swords on there shields.
"MAY THE DEAD LIVE ON WITHIN US"
"MAY THE DEAD LIVE ON WITHIN US"
"MAY THE DEAD LIVE ON WITHIN US"
"MAY THE DEAD LIVE ON WITHIN US" they chanted again and again and again as there shouts grew in volume util they roared across the english stopping the english and causing the closest men to back away.
"its just five men kill them" one of the english said causing them to regain there courage and began advancing agin only for baldwin to let out a roar that rang across the english and into the tress.
the english stopped gain only to turn when they heard a roar from behind them.
"more attacker some of theres" one shouted as some turned to confront them leaving them open as they charged towards the roar only for a large figure to come crashing through there ones with men behind him.
"BALDWIN" asger shouted over the english as he held one of them in the air by the throat causing the men around him to back up "HANG ON ILL BE OVER THERE SOON" he continued.
"come on your men of England one freak and a couple of men are nothing one Englishman shouted as his men began to attack asger.
"BUT THAT THE THING HE'S JUST THE FIRST WAVE" a voice shouted across the melee as another group of men crashed into the english trapping them between the two groups.
"MEAT HEAD" Takeda shouted as he cut his way through to the middle "SKINNY MAN" asger shouted back as followed suit.
"so your still alive" Takeda said they met in the middle before he turned and cut a man down before blocking a sword strike before looking over his shoulder to asger.
"i should be saying the same" Asger said as he slammed his axe down of a Englishman's head before throwing his sword impaling a man into a tree before grabbing another mans leg picking him up and throwing him into other attackers.
"come on we need to get to Baldwin" Asger said as he yanked his sword out of the tree causing the man to drop to the ground.
"i don't think we need to" Takeda said as he weaved in and out of the men attacking him before hitting there vitals "why" Asger shouted as he saw Takeda pointing to baldwin's location and hearing a rumble causing him to smile.
"the enemy are at are back we have to move run these corpses down" one of the men shouted as they all rushed forwards tripping over each other to get through Baldwin and escape.
"not today" Baldwin thought as he opened a path causing the english to run for the gap in hope of escape but that was dashed when they saw why he had moved the raisin he had moved was not to let them escape it was to let somebody through.
"CHARGE" Catherine shouted as she came thundering through the pass with her knights and this she spelt the end for the english trapped form behind and trampled by horses in front the stood no chance and were moped up quickly.
"Asger, Takeda" Catherine said as she rode up to them with a smile on her face "well done it seems that you can lead men" she would have continued but a voice behind her got her attention.
"boss i…." Catherine turned just to see baldwin walk and then fall to the ground holding his leg "baldwin" Catherine cried out as Asger rushed past her and held him up.
"sorry boss one of them got me i must have noticed it in the heat of things" he said as he tried to stand only to fall only avoiding the ground because of Asger holding him up.
"Asger carry him back men were heading back" Catherine shouted as she got every body ready and set off.
"we won the skirmish but the real battle begins tomorrow"
(a hour later at the camp)
"I've said it before you idiot" a voice shouted causing Catherine to look around they had just returned to camp and as soon as she arrive she could here a commotion.
"get the wounded lay down somewhere and tended to" Catherine said as asger and some of the men split off into the camp as the rest followed Catherine into the camp towards the voice.
"where are the guards" she thought as worry began to set in as she drew closer to the commotion "what if we were attack no there no sign of a struggle the tents are in perfect order" she thought as she arrive were the commotion was it was the noble he was backhand with a couple of men with him they numbered around thirty more than the number of guards at the camp.
"I've told you ill tell you agin she is not here she marched to battle" Richard said before being interrupted by the noble "i don't care what you say who said she could she works form me i say were she can go".
"ah fuck not his guy again why can't we deal with him" takeda said as Catherine looked down at him form her horse at him "i wish we could" she said before she got off her horse and walked towards Richard and the noble.
"ah my lady you have returned" Richard said ignoring the noble in front of his causing the noble to spin and rush towards her.
"you how dare you bitch" the noble screamed as he got closer to Catherine only for takeda to step in front of her blocking whims her men flanked her causing him to walk back into his guards.
"who said you could march out to fight you work for me" he shouted as Catherine let out a sigh as she pushed past Takeda and walked so she was in front of him.
"i march out because i was contracted to" Catherine said as she stared the noble down with a cold stare causing him to back up so his men were in front of him.
"what are you talking about bitch i gave no order" he shouted as Richard walked next to Catherine and held up a parchment "what that" he shouted.
"that is a contract signed by Arthur de richmount order us to battle" Catherine said as the noble went pale "now i will still complete your contract but you better be careful your I'm my mens camp making commotion and your guard wilt protect you your out numbered and these men are still up for a fight" she said as she held out her arm showing all the men behind her ready to fight.
"this is not the end of this i expect you in the cavalry tomorrow" he said as he scuttled away with his guard it tow.
"Richard are you okay" Catherine said as she turned to him to check if anything had happened before she got back.
"I'm fine my lady he turned up not that long ago asking where you were and why you wouldn't come when he called for you" Richard said in disgust at the way the noble treated Catherine.
"its okay Richard he can't do anything here now he knows that we had a contract with Arthur" Catherine said as she walked towards her tent before stopping just before she went.
" see you in the morning" Catherine said as she entered her tent leaving Richard outside with the men who were slowly dispersing into the camp.
"i have a bad feeling about tomorrow"
(the next day)
true to Arthur's plan he had driven the english towards the main french army position at Agincourt and now they stood against a french army numbering over twenty thousand while they numbered just under seven thousand.
"marshal" and french solder said as he rode up to Arthur as he looked over his army at the english who hd placed stakes in the ground to slow him down.
"what of there surrender" Arthur said as he looked at the english hopping they would surrender and be taken captive.
"they have refused the surrender and are prepare to fight" the solder said as Arthur took in a breath before returning to him and speaking.
"who leads them" Arthur said as he looked at the solder "the black prince and a minor lord" the solder said as he moved his hand dismissing the solder.
"i will wait they will surrender eventually"
(with Catherine in the cavalry)
"so your here bitch now you will attack when we attack that your orders" the noble said as the men around them looked ta he confused at they watch him call some mercenary in full knights amour things you would only call a woman.
"Richard say close i don't want the men to get separated in this formation of cavalry" Catherine said as she turned to Richard behind her.
"yes my lady" he responded quietly as he singled for the horsemen to move closer together as they ready themselves for the order to charge as they looked over at the english to see them all raise two fingers at the french.
"those dog how dare they" the noble shouted as others in the cavalry began to push there horse forward to try and get the front to move but the french nobility never took insults lightly and they broke formation and changed.
"charge take to finger of every english dog you find lets see them use a bow then" one noble shouted as the cavalry burst into a full gallop towards the english thundering across the field.
as soon as they flew forward the infantry followed suit breaking formation following there individual lord looking for fame and glory.
(the french centre)
"where are they going dam hold ranks" Arthur shouted as he tried to hold his line only for a noble to fly past him braking formation shouted "quiet commoner we the noble class shall lead this army"
"don't they see this is a trap" Arthur thought as he watched his army surge forwards towards the english and there longbows.
"gather the remming men have them reform" he shouted as his second rode out reforming the few men that hadn't charged forwards.
"the english have us beat"
(with Catherine in the charge)
"ya ya" Catherine said as she spurred her horse as she and the french cavalry began to be funnelled towards the dismounted knights in the centre of the stakes.
the french remained un dithered as they galloped towards the french with total faith in that god had already granted them victory.
"come men of franc ewe have already won they just don't know it" one of the nobles shouted as they all galloped with there guard down.
"we have to hurry we have to beat the longbows before…." Catherine started before she looked up and saw the rain of arrow "shit" she thought as the arrows came raining down felling countless knights and nobility.
with a single rain of arrows the french went from assured victory to crushing deafen as they tried to escape as some who had fallen from there horses cried out screaming for help as the rest continued the charge trampling over them
"i have to make it to silence throw bows i….." Catherine thought as suddenly she went from on the back of her horse to the air as her horse collapsed under her her eyes widen as the ground approach quickly but as soon as she hit the ground everything went black.
(from Richard's prospective)
"the arrows are destroying us we have to pull back" Richard thought as he watched Catherine gallop ahead of him and them suddenly her horse fell and she flew forward her head hitting the ground with enough force to crush the side of the helmet.
"CATHERINE" Richard shouted as he left of his horse to check on her as the men formed a human wall with the horses to stop her from being trampled.
"CATHERINE CATHERINE SPEAK TO ME" Richard shouted and he rolled her over onto her back as she lay deathly still as he pulled of her destroyed helm as he checked her features seeing blood pour down from her head.
"Catherine" Richard said he felt for a pulse "come on come" he paused until he felt a faint pulse.
"yes she's alive thank god" Richard said as he cradled her head on his lap as he looked forward seeing the french infantry being cut down bey the arrows and advancing english.
"we need to move" Richard said as he looked around as he saw asger and takeda arriving with their infantry. "what happen" takeda shouted as they arrived as he saw Catherine's limp body.
"she okay she alive we have to get her out of here" Richard said as asger bent down and as carful as he could picked her up as they prepared to move back when another rain of arrows came crashing down.
"shields" Richard shouted as the men raised there shields to cover themselves as Asger wrapped his arms round Catherine as he covered her form the arrows taking three arrows to the back.
"Asger" takeda shouted as as he saw the arrows lodge themselves in his back "I'm fine we kneed to get her out of here" Asger shouted as them as they to retreat only stopping when the saw Richard mounting his horse and standing there.
"Richard come on" Takeda shouted as he and asger looked back at him "i can't I'm sorry" Richard said shocking the two of them.
"why" they shouted out as Richard lower his head before speaking "the english are advancing somebody needs to hold them".
"Richard wait don't" Takeda said as Richard turned to them and smiled "thank you she is going to rely on you soon please be there for her I'm happy i got to see her meet two people who could be here greatest supports tell her tell her I'm sorry and that she must keep move now go" Richard said as he galloped forwards towards the english.
"no Richard" takeda shouted as asger grabbed him "come on we need to go" asger said "but".
" no but now come on don't sully his sacrifice" asger said as they turned and ran fro there lives.
(with Richard)
"ya ya" Richard said as he spurned his horse as hard as he could before tuning to his side "i guess were going out together" he said as Catherine's knights lined up next to him in a line as the galloped.
"we came together we die together are lady can't die yet its not her time now lets make this an end worthy of history" one of the knight said as they thundered towards the english.
time seemed so slow as the rode to there last battle as arrows came raining towards them hitting them killing some.
"ahhhhhhhhh" Richard roared as an arrow front its place in his shoulder as he kept riding and with and thunder crash they hit the english line as Richard sung his axe down cleaning two men down as he thrusted throughout there lines his horse fell sending him to the ground.
"ahhhhhhhh not yet" he thought as he pulled himself up only to receive a sword in the gut "ahhhh" he pat out blood as he blamed his axe down on the man head before swinging it in front of him sending two me to there graves as he saw the las to the knight fall as he cleaved his way forwards.
"ahhhh" he roared as mace hit is back distracting his as he was cut across the eye before he spun splitting the men round him in half before he fell to one knee as the english stood round he before he dragged himself up as he picked up a sword as he used both his axe and sword as bludgeons to carve a path.
"there almost there" he thought as he looked thorough his blurry vision in his one eye as he raised his arm to block a axe the render his arm useless as blood poured from it.
"ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Richard let out out a roar of a dieing beast as threw his body froward ad broke into a run using his one remaining arm to fight his way through as he pushed his way thought to the black prince.
"die" he shouted as he swung his axe down onto of the prince only to be pushed back when a spear pierced his gut "ahhhhhhhhhhh" he roared as he pushed his body forward driving the spear deeper before biting down of the man neck tearing his throat out as he raised his axe and threw it as the men around him as they all rushed forward piercing his body with whatever they had before stepping back leaving there weapons there as he fell to his knees.
"what why do this" Edward said as he approach Richard as he knelt to his level "a man of England why fight so hard for France" he said as he wanted to know what drove a man to go so far.
"not….fffffor france….for my lady" Richard whispered out as the light drained from his eyes "my lady" Edward thought as he looked at the man before placing his hand on his shoulder.
"go rest brave soul" Edward said as Richard let out his last breath as his life ended he thought one thing.
"live on Catherine"
(end chapter)