Chapter 8: Marching Uphill

The huge band of warriors and war horses that had once started up the mountain in a furious gallop has now been reduced to a pathetic crawl. They are all battered and worn from the struggle; many of them could barely walk. Those who were unable to move had to rely on others to move for them. Many of the soldiers had helped the injured onto stretchers or carried them up onto their shoulders. The path was littered with footprints and blood stains. The supply horses groaned under the pressure of the heavy loads they carried. It was a sorry sight.

Sara no longer struggled and rested rather peaceably, leaning on my chest with her eyes closed. She is unbelievable…at one moment she was trying to take down the whole advancing Undead army by herself and only now she takes a nap. Unbelievable…

"What were you doing back there?" I said to her quietly, unsure if she was still awake.

She did not reply at first, merely stirred slightly. I let out a sigh and prodded my horse forward with the reins.

"I was only trying to protect the rearguard…" Sara finally replied but kept her eyes closed.

"By yourself?"

"Are you suggesting that I should have left them there? To get eaten or worse?"

"You were ordered to guide them here; I didn't ask you to rush so recklessly to--"

"It was unavoidable."

"Unavoidable!"

"We were ambushed. We needed to defend ourselves. It was only natural that we had to confront them."

"Your actions were inexcusable."

"Am I asking for forgiveness? No, Orias, I am not trying to get myself killed but I am not afraid to die. I would have gladly given my life, yet it seems that you have such a low opinion of my abilities that you assumed that I wouldn't have come back. Color me reckless and disobedient…is that how you see me, Orias?"

I didn't reply, just grimaced and gripped the reigns tighter than I should have. She becomes too damn difficult to deal with sometimes. She can't go a day without--

"I ask you not to worry about me, Orias…I can take care of myself. You have enough on your plate already. So you concentrate on your work instead of nagging me to death like an old woman, hmm? And I'll…try not to cause you any more trouble…for now."

No…I guess she can't go a day without. She has been like this ever since I met her in the Capital City. The very day we left along with our caravan. The way we met…was a strange occurrence. My train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a loud whinnying from one of the pack horses. The horse was driven mad as it flailed wildly. Some of the men were trying to calm the horse without being thrashed by the horse's hooves.

"Ack! Looks like more trouble. I got this one, Orias." Menteith said as he rushed toward the rampaging horse.

I watched Menteith join the circle of men trying to calm the mad beast. The horse threw off its load and started to thrash even more violently. Menteith drew out his gun and aimed it at the rampaging horse.

The second it tried to charge toward Menteith, was the very second Menteith released a bullet into its skull. The horse was brought down and started shake wildly as it fell to its side. It finally gave a sign of release and remained still. Menteith went to expect the beast. He took out his hunting knife and inspected a hole at the beast's side.

I had the horse come up right next to the corpse. Menteith slashed open the underbelly and an unpleasant sound came from the landing of the horse's entrails on the ground.

"Sigh…unlucky bastard got too close to one of the abominations. See here? It was already starting to rot from the inside and out. That's what drove it mad. Nothing to do now but to torch the damn thing."

Menteith rose up from his squat and saw Sara resting. He gave me a look and shouldered his rifle.

"She sleepin'? After all that, she sleepin'?" Menteith asked

"Resting would be the better word but yes, she's--" I started to reply but Menteith shook his head.

"Loose cannon, I tell ya Orias. I'm surprised she even came back! I remember the last time she came back. Clocked one of my boys, just looking at her wrong! Etel still has the black and blue in his eye. I tell ya, she's only trouble if you bring her--Gurk!"

The spear that was resting in Sara's hand suddenly jerked up at Menteith's neck. The very tip was just a push away from entering his throat and coming out the other side.

"You have a problem with me, dwarf?" Sara said calmly and with her eyes still closed.

The dwarf let out a nervous laugh and backed off a few steps from the deadly spear. He rubbed his neck and smoothed out his graying beard.

"No problem, young lady! No problem! What disputes would I have with a beautiful daughter of a noble and a one with a fighter's spirit at that!"

"Really? Your comments earlier seemed to contradict your current kind words, dwarf."

"Mean nothing by them. I…I think I hear a mug of booze calling out my name. If you'll excuse me, kind miss."

Menteith quickly left but not without making a gesture with his thumb of cutting at the neck. I smiled and looked down at Sara.

"Would it be so bad to remain friendly with the others?" I asked her.

"To that booze hog? I'd kill him first." Sara replied.

"That sounds more like a promise than a threat. I'm telling this to you now, Sara. I don't want you to--"

"There you go again, Orias. Nagging is not the most effective way to tell me things. It just comes off as noise to me. So I'll just ask you this once…be a good pillow and shut up for me, okay?"

Sara said nothing more afterwards. Unbelievable…just so damn unbelievable.

We arrived at the first gate before the Central City. The guards of the outer gate had stopped the first group outside. Sir Anteus rode up next to me.

"What is going on? Why aren't they letting them in?" Anteus demanded to know.

"I ask that you be patient, Sir Anteus. It is not every day that we get visitors. Riley!"

Riley, an archer from the outpost, had run up from the second group to the first.

"Is there something wrong?" Riley asked us.

"No problem, just have the guards open the gate for us. It seems that I should have had Danaris inform the gate guards as well."

Riley was quick to act and ran to the gates. It took only a few moments before the sounds of gears started to rattle. The gates slowly opened for the beleaguered army. We had started to move when the gates had fully opened. The inner gate had also started to slowly open as we approached it as well.

"Ack! The gears sound a little creaky. I told Banquo to check the damn things." Menteith grumbled.

"You've built the gates yourself, dwarf?" Anteus asked.

"Nay, Agnar's the one that built the frame but my brother's the architect. The gates are made from the craft of the dwarves, so don't be expecting it to break down soon. The metals that compose these gates are forged from an adaman alloy and can withstand 2000 mortar blasts at once."

"Made to last…"

"And then some! Got'em reinforced up and down the whole thing." Menteith announced proudly.

"It's strange…the elves had the forest and runed doors to protect them…you have this natural mountain fortress and these gates." Anteus said grimly.

Menteith did not reply but merely grunted and shouldered his gun. I felt at unease as well at Anteus' comment. Yet…he couldn't be more right. The elves had been conquered thoroughly. Not even with all their magic could they fend off against the swarms of the Undead. I can not say that we will do much better should the Undead make their way up to the Central Town. The stratagem I employed will hold them at bay until they find a means to break through. Then we will have a fight for our lives.

A crowd beheld the sight before them when we reached the Central Town. When I was younger I had viewed the proud marching armies of Lordaeron in shining armor and impressive display. When we arrived, the crowd of villagers did not see the mighty and proud warriors of Lordaeron. Only the weary soldiers who have now lost everything. They could no longer hold their heads up high. I could see that they did not meet the gazes of the villagers but merely set to work.

As the soldiers started to unpack, I had my horse trot toward the town hall. Arisman had already burst forward from the doors of the doors of the town hall and a look of surprise and exasperation spread across his face as he saw this new band of refugees. I could see that he was fast approaching me.

Sara, almost instinctively, had awoken from her slumber and quickly left my side. She disappeared among the crowd of soldiers. Arisman finally reached me as I dismounted.

"What--What is this! Orias! Explain!" Arisman yelled furiously.

Socrates appeared at the door of the town hall looking calmly upon the soldiers. I tried to see if I could catch his gaze and have him distract Arisman long enough for me to muster an excuse or explanation. He did not take notice.

"I shall explain at an emergency convergence of the town elders." I finally replied and left quickly before Arisman tried to stop me.

I had walked up the steps of the town hall and stood beside Socrates. He looked rather somber compared to Arisman fuming at the sight of the mass of refugees.

"Orias…are they…who I think they are?" Socrates asked me in a slow and quiet tone.

"If I said yes, would it matter? Does this change your views now, Socrates?"

Socrates closed his eyes and grimaced. He held to the sides of the doors to the town hall as if he was about to fall over.

"I had hoped…that they would have persevered. I had hoped that we were strong enough! That we as a whole could have overcome this! And yet…maybe this was just this old man's clinging to the old glories."

"Is it wrong to cling to them? Cling to hope that we will persevere? We may have been beaten down as of now. But we fight for our lives now, Socrates. Not for territory rights, not for riches, and not for personal ambition. We fight for our lives now."

His expression softened and he turned towards me.

"It shall be hard to explain to them."

"A burden I am more than willing to bear. I suggest you steel yourself for this one, Socrates. This time Arisman will not be the only thing you will be dealing with."

"Arisman is the least of my troubles, Orias. The other council members will be most troubled by this. I do not fear reprimand from them but I do fear extradition for my counsel."

"You could not have foreseen this. None of us could."

"That is where you are wrong, Orias. It was clear that we could not remain in shadow from the constant patrols of the Undead. I shall see to Erethel and the other elders, I trust that you will be present when the meeting converges."

Socrates left to gather the elders. They were quick to gather as they were the most curious about the new arrivals. However, as if by tradition, Arisman was the first to express his outrage.

"INSUBORDINATION! Betrayal to the council! This is sheer defiance, Orias!"

The other elders turned there heads to hide their expressions of immediate boredom of Arisman's words. It was the same as always, I could not blame them, for I feel the same resentment. It seemed to me that he was very near to frothing at the mouth with rage.

"On whose authority did you ride in with a pack of these refugees! None of the council was informed of this--this intrusion!"

"We were being attacked by the Undead, Arisman. With all due respect, I think that allowed us some leeway to march to the Central Town." I replied as calmly as I could.

"And whose fault is it that they were led here in the first place! It is an incomprehensible to believe your actions. We are pressed for resources as it is! With our supply routes blocked, how do you intend to sustain our new populace? Did you bring conjurers with magic to manifest food for the rest of us! Pah! Instead of starving after a few months, we will soon be starving in a few days."

Arisman sat triumphantly in his seat after making his speech. I passed off Arisman's criticisms but it was not simple. I could see Arisman already smirking at Socrates.

"Most feasible, Socrates? You have probably brought the downfall upon us all."

Socrates did not rise from his seat in rage or retort on Arisman's comment as I had expected him too. Instead he had his eyes closed and had his forehead rested upon folded hands.

"Then do suggest, Arisman…" Socrates started slowly.

"That Orias had left the refugees for dead? Left them there to be fed to the Undead perhaps?"

Arisman shifted in his seat slightly.

"They would have--"

"Fought back? Make for the shores? Do you expect us to think their plight is any different from ours? It would have been inhuman to reject them! They are own people. As such, we shall protect them with the fullest extent of our ability. In turn, they have brought a mass of supplies they have brought with them. We now have more manpower to protect and sustain this fortress. And yet you still call them a burden?"

"Are you to say that a few more peasants would matter against--?"

"I have forgotten! There is an introduction I would like to make to the council." I quickly interceded.

The council turned there attention towards me as I let in our visitor.

"I present to the council, Sir Anteus Windrath, Lieutenant of the Lordaeron Army."

As Anteus entered, he gave a respective bow to the council. More of the council members had awoken from the strained debate to greet our visitor. I could see that they were surprised to see an officer of the Lordaeron Army to come at all. Arisman also started to straighten himself.

"Ahem…we…greet our prestigious guest. It is an honor and might I say…a surprise to see--"

Arisman tried to keep his composure, as he was once a nobleman of the Court of Lordaeron. However, he could not help but stumble upon his words. I took in light in that fact.

"The honor is mine and we thank you for taking us in. We apologize for the imposition."

Anteus replied.

"None at all but…if I may dare ask…why are you here?"

"We were unfortunately pushed in here. After miles of travel it was hard for us to find a safe shelter. We of the Lordaeron Army thank you for your hospitality."

I gritted my teeth as he mentioned his last few words. We have not yet touched on the subject on who our refugees were. I could already see Arisman starting to change in his demeanor.

"The Lordaeron Army…?" Arisman asked.

"Yes, it was quite a great fortune that we were able to--"

"The mass of refugees…they are all soldiers?"

"Yes, as I mentioned we were pressed here as we--"

"Are you a single regiment?" Arisman continued to interrupt as he continued his interrogation.

"We are…unfortunately…the remaining forces of the Lordaeron army, sir. I command what few survivors that have marched from the Capitol City after a failed attempt to reclaim it."

This statement shocked Arisman as well as the other elders. I could see the reason for Anteus to remain ignorant of the current situation but I had wished he had not said anything.

"Oh how the mighty have fallen…haven't they, Socrates?" Arisman turned to Socrates again.

"Rise up the banners of Lordaeron! For our saviors have arrived!" Arisman shouted mockingly.

I could hardly contain my rage. I could not see how Anteus could remain so calm against Arisman's taunts. I could see that he merely stood there and took it.

"How is any of this possible? How were you defeated, Sir Anteus?" Erethel asked.

The eyes of the council had turned to Anteus, who had remained still.

"We…took up the devil's deal. Our leader…no we all thought that retaking the Capitol would have been easier with them."

"Them?"

"The Forsaken, an Undead faction that have rebelled against the current Undead that is under the command of Arthas. It has become anarchy amongst them. A fight for the control of Lordaeron. We thought if we had joined them, we could have pushed them back and…it was a foolish attempt."

An outcry came from the council. Arisman had stormed from the Town Hall doors and left, along with some other elders. The council was now in disarray. I could see now that Anteus could not hold his head up to the council anymore. His reprimand was quick but he did not come from it unscathed. We walked out of the Town Hall, as it seemed that the meeting was unofficially adjourned.

He had stopped in front of the town square and observed his troops unloading. He sighed and looked to the ground. I suspected that it was more than just the dirt road that had he taken interest in.

"How long has it been?" Anteus asked me.

I was confused by his question but I was compelled to answer him.

"How long? What do you mean by how long?"

"How long have you stayed here in the mountains?"

"It has been…"

It was a hard question to answer as time had no consequence here. It has seemed so long but I could not perceive it to be more than a few months.

"It has been awhile. That's as much as I could say."

"Was it hard for you? For them? To stay here in this chasm within the mountains."

"We have managed and survived for the time being."

"I assume that you were charged to protect them? Even back in the Capitol City as you fled?"

I paused for a moment. I did not know why I had paused yet I did.

"Yes."

"Hmph….you've done an amazing job." He looked over at the villagers who were starting to prepare dinner and the children who were standing amazed at the war horses.

He continued to scan the rest of the village.

"You keep them quite happy."

"I keep them alive. I would not call this existence happy. Being hunted and hiding in fear."

"Yet they seem to continue on living."

"What else can they do? We do not all wait for death, it comes to us when it arrives and we ignore until it does."

"Is that a fact? I…had hoped to absolve my sins here. Take up a second chance here."

"A second chance?"

"A second chance to protect them, to protect our people. I would…I would like for that much."

"Anteus--"

"The failure of our commander shall pass to his subordinates. Were you going to say we only followed orders? Ha…I wished…I wished some orders we had not followed. I just wished…"

He shook his head and turned away. I did not follow but looked upon the battered soldiers again. A second chance…is that not what these soldiers were given? A second chance to live after a brush with death. The sins that their commander have committed and now his subordinates must pay the price. Their march uphill was not a march of glory as it once was before. The banners that once waved high, the gleaming armor upon the proud soldiers, and firm resolve have now faded into the dust. Now only broken soldiers have return to what they now call home. A second chance…if only for a second chance.