You guys probably hate me so much right now. I know, I've been gone for over a month, I'm sorry for doing that. It's just that a lot's happened, been working with some fellow fanfiction writers on a co-developed story. High School's also been wearing down on me. It also doesn't help me that I've been suffering a bad feeling of writer's block. I just wasn't getting the inspiration to write this next chapter. But I'll try to make a chapter sooner than now, again so sorry. Look, I also wanna point out that even if I weren't to update for a year guys, I'll always post a new chapter. Please don't hate me for the time gaps I leave. R&R.
(One week previous to current events)
Tristan had been waiting patiently since their return with Vitalion and Beorn to Ashfield for the messengers from Valkenheim and the Myre to arrive.
He paced in the war room, knowing one of the two would arrive today.
Several minutes passed, until a Centurion guard escorted the obvious Chosen messenger in.
"You're the leader of this rebellion?" the man asked Tristan, who nodded in conformation.
The messenger unrolled a scroll of paper and began reading the message.
"To the commanding General of the Ashfield Rebellion, we regret to inform you that unless we are given a positive reason to ally with the factions summoned to the war summit, representatives from the Myre will not arrive. Due to the recent attack on our homeland caused by the Warborn tribe, we shall not forgive the vikings so soon of the needless lives they took from the Myre. Sincerest apologies, Empress Ayu." the young man finished.
Tristan sighed, nodding in an unenthusiastic manner.
"Very well. Tell your empress that it's unfortunate the Chosen won't be present at the summit." he sighed, turning away from the messenger, who was finally escorted from the castle and Everwinter.
(Everwinter, Ashfield)
If Tristan had been told a year ago he'd be inviting the viking's into Ashfield with open arms, he would've laughed.
This was definitely not the norm for the war council; Tristan had only summoned Jacklyn, Holden, and surprisingly, to their shock, Morgan. Present was also the new "war councilor" Rodrick Vitalion as well as Chieftain Beorn Arminus, representing the Iron Legion and the Stonewolf tribe.
Sir'Morgan was confused, he wasn't a member of the war council, yet Tristan had invited him to join their meeting with the viking oberjarl.
Tristan and the others were already seated when Morgan entered, looking confused. To Tristan's right side, there was a new chair. The chair was freshly carved and designed to match Jacklyn's left hand chair.
He stood silent, not knowing what to do. Tristan chuckled a bit, "Well, Sir'Morgan, shall you join us?" the commander asked his right hand. Morgan was even more confused now.
"I'm...not a member of the War Council though..." he slurred.
"You've been loyal since my first days in Everwinter. You're respected across the entirety of the Ashfield Rebellion. You deserve this position of authority." he gestured for the Centurion to sit down finally.
Morgan hesitantly sat down, almost like trying on new armor. Getting the feel for it and adjusting to it.
It felt good. He felt like he had truly accomplished something to receive this promotion. For the first time in ages, Morgan smiled genuinely.
Rodrick was surprised, yet impressed, with Tristan's decision to promote his right hand to the war council.
For what seemed like ages, one of the Centurion guards entered the war room.
"General Tristan and War Councilor Vitalion, the Oberjarl of Valkenheim and his allies have arrived." the soldier announced before leaving.
"This will be interesting, it's been decades since the Stonewolves have interacted with anyone politically." Beorn sighed, feeling frustrated that instead of fighting, he had to be here...discussing politics.
"I know how that feels. Tala'raan's been silent for too long." Vitalion huffed, feeling anxious about the battle happening in his own homeland at the moment.
The moment they stopped talking, the doors were thrown open, thundering in the stone halls of the castle. In stepped Theoden, Runa, Helvar, and Stigandr; Siv and Chief Oswald had remained in Valkenheim to repel any possible attacks if they came.
The knights and Beorn all stood respectfully to greet the viking leaders. Jacklyn's eyes narrowed when they fell upon Stigandr...the man had a shocking resemblance to someone she had fought before.
'No, that would be impossible...that, or I have the WORST. Damned. Luck. Imaginable, in this realm.' she thought to herself with fear and nervousness rising within her.
"Oberjarl of the viking tribes, welcome to Everwinter. I'm Tristan Lionel, General of the Ashfield rebellion." he allowed the raider to introduce himself.
"Oberjarl Theoden, preferably just Theoden, a pleasure." he bowed a bit mockingly. He let Tristan now introduce the people with him.
"I am Sir'Morgan Ajax, Centurion and right hand to the Commander." he bowed his head. Tristan looked to Jacklyn, smiling a bit before nodding.
"I am warden Jacklyn, left hand to General Tristan." she bowed politely.
"Holden Cross, senior Lieutenant and strategic adviser of the rebellion." he bowed as well.
Rodrick looked up finally, "I am the war councilor of Tala'raan, Rodrick Vitalion, representing the Tala'raanian people and the Iron Highlands." he bowed his head a bit, the grim features he held showed as he didn't want to be here obviously.
"And finally, I am Beorn Arminus, chieftain of the Stonewolf tribe. I represent the lone tribe aligned with the Iron Legion." Beorn didn't bow as he just wished to get this dealt with.
Stigandr didn't like the idea of barbarians in general being present, but it was Theoden's will that they meet peacefully.
Theoden now looked to his companions, nodding.
"I am Runa, valkyrie commander, senior scout and spouse of Theoden." Runa spoke calmly, not showing any anxiety.
"Helvar, berserker warband leader and secondary commander of the Warborn army." he bowed, obviously trying to look sarcastic.
"I am Stigandr, son of Gudmundr, senior warlord and jarl, commander of the Warborn army." he bowed only a bit.
Jacklyn almost gasped out loud, before saving herself. Her eyes however narrowed, her pupils dilated to single specks. The son of the former oberjarl to Valkenheim stood before her, the murderer of Gudmundr.
"Now, let's get this dealt with, the longer we're away from Valkenheim, the worse." he sat down in one of the chairs, prompting for them all to sit down.
"Agreed, the longer we dabble in politics, hundreds of lives are lost at Tala'raan." Vitalion sighed, now sitting down again.
"Very well..." Tristan sat down now, "Let's begin this for the good of our people."
(Tala'raan)
The casualties from the battle so far were catastrophic for a Legion, but had at least dropped drastically now that the barbarians were slowed down and they could gain a breather from the endless battle.
General Tuchus had decided to merge the first two legions of their force to compensate for the numbers they had lost.
The first and second Tala'raanian legions pulled back behind the trench and forts while the fresh third legion mobilized to prepare for the next battle.
A loud horn followed by a thundering war cry from the forest alerted them of the attacking barbarians mobilizing as well.
He looked to one of his officers, "Bring orders to the Third, tell them to sprint into formation, we need to be ready before the barbarians are!" he growled before turning back to his map and troop pieces, the blue ones representing their soldiers and the red figures for the barbarians.
He removed one blue and slid back the other piece and moved another forward. They had three full, fresh legions and two that were depleted to half strength.
"This will be my last war...win it or lose." he said out loud.
(The western mountains of Valkenheim)
Apollyon and her cavalry guard trotted through the barbarian warband. Tyodus had only sent seven thousand warriors to appose the vikings. Apollyon had to fill the gap to outnumber the viking army. She brought ten thousand soldiers with her to assist the barbarians.
The leader of the warband was Tyodis Drakuul's son, Zayne Drakuul. Apollyon, while not caring how many barbarians were lost to the war, also knew it was important to offer support and keep the armies intact.
Zayne seemed to be drinking heavily with his comrades, much to her disgust that a leader of his importance to their people would drink at a time like this. But while Tyodis was busy battling the Tala'raanians, she was in charge of finishing what she started in Valkenheim.
She got off her horse and slowly marched until she was a little over five feet away from Zayne.
"The vikings outnumber you, my army hasn't arrived to reinforce yours, and your drink while the enemy could be planning to strike at any moment?!" she growled, anger rising within her.
He laughed, his braided brown hair flying as he paraded around.
"You can either meet the enemy with a light heart or a hardened one. I think that light is basically the same as drunk!" he laughed again.
"Besides, these are my soldiers. If I wanted every man in the army to drink til he couldn't stand, I'd let them and you wouldn't be able to do ANYTHING about it!" he smirked cockily.
Suddenly, to his and everyone's shock, she drove her sword into the ground before lifting her helmet off of her head. No one...No one. Had ever seen. Her. Face.
While standing at her almost six foot tall stature, she revealed her aged, grim features. Her ponytail tied hair was brown with slivers of gray lining it. She wasn't old, but her fighting style was deceiving for her age. The youngest part of her was the pair of emerald eyes she had.
Across her face, she had several scars, the most noticeable was a long mark extending from the middle of her forehead to the border of her jawline.
While stunned, she grabbed Zayne by the collar and pulled him til he wasn't touching the ground.
"I've fought some of the most gruesome battles known before you ever took your first breath! Your father is all the way in Tala'raan, and we don't have the numbers to throw at the vikings with ease, so leisure is not a luxury. Until your father sends word, giving you command of this operation, I'M. IN. CHARGE. And if you reject this..." he felt a dagger scrape against his abdomen.
"It'd be a shame if you conveniently perished at the hands of the vikings." she hissed before shoving him to the ground. He panicked while crawling to get away.
She fluidly re-equipped her helmet and ripped her sword back from the ground. The tyrant turned back and mounted her horse before continuing to the Blackstone camp.
(Everwinter, Ashfield)
"WE CAN'T JUST COMMIT OUR ENTIRE ARMY! Not while the Barbarians threaten to attack Valkenheim!" Theoden growled.
"If the Tala'raanian Legion is wiped out, the Iron Highlands will be next. Then no one...and I mean NO ONE, will stand a chance against Apollyon. We need the viking army's support." Vitalion countered.
"Well we have to think of something! Soon! The fate of our kingdoms hangs in the balance!" Tristan growled, for once he was at an impasse. They hadn't expected the barbarians to also be in Valkenheim.
"I still don't know why we bothered being here for this! The knights showed us no remorse when Apollyon attacked Valkenheim and crippled the tribes! When my father died defending our land and was slaughtered at Apollyon's hands!" Stigandr challenged them.
Jacklyn's eyes widened at hearing him mention the final siege against Valkenheim from Apollyon's campaign. She felt deathly guilty. Her being the noble person and living under the knight's code of chivalry ordered her to never lie, even to a viking.
The arguing of their leaders became only noise, her mind went blank. She couldn't move suddenly, she almost felt a drop of sweat roll down her face. There was a lump in her throat, she couldn't utter a word.
"STOP!" she roared suddenly.
Everyone fell silent and looked to her. She knew this risked the summit, but she couldn't bear the newfound guilt.
"Gudmundr didn't fall to Apollyon's blade..." she mustered the courage to admit it.
"How do you know of what happened at Svengard?" Stigandr asked slowly.
"...Because I was there...because Iwas the one who killed Gudmundr…!" she clenched her teeth together, slamming her plated gauntlet onto the round table. A huge weight lifted from her shoulders, and was quickly replaced by fear.
Stigandr looked stunned, but soon became enraged.
"Murderer..." he growled before drawing his sword. "VILLAIN! TIME TO DIE!" he prepared to run across the table before Helvar and Theoden held him back.
Tristan didn't expect that, Cross just shook his head. He felt equally guilty about Svengard.
"Stand down Stig! Think of Valkenheim, without an alliance we have no help! Think of the people you swore to protect and see reason!" Théoden growled while struggling to hold the warlord back.
"HOW DARE YOU! THOUSANDS OF MY PEOPLE! DEAD!" Stigandr roared, a look of pure hatred in his eyes as he struggled under Theoden and Helvar's strength.
"I was misled!" she sighed, looking to Tristan and Holden.
"The three of us were, she started the conflict by deceiving us! She broke the peace by attacking Valkenheim, then the Myre so they would target Ashfield and the cycle of war; slaughter, would repeat. Tristan was the first to break away, he's the best thing that's happened to Ashfield and our lands since then. Without the rebellion, the samurai would have walked into a slaughter, the vikings would also eventually attack, open war would begin once the Iron Legions arrived and only blood would mark our lands!" she stood up now.
"Apollyon played us all! One against the other! For what?!" he growled.
"To weed out the weak." she spoke with courage now. That caught his attention, Theoden eventually managed to calm the jarl down.
Jacklyn sat back down, having felt winded after that. Tristan was astonished at the confrontation between her and Stigandr.
"I see a way to solve this problem." Morgan said suddenly.
"Morgan?" Tristan asked his right hand.
The African knight stood up to gain their attention.
"If the rebellion helps the viking army push the barbarians out of Valkenheim, the vikings can send aid to Tala'raan in return." he was calm, unlike the rest of them.
They were all silent, pondering Morgan's suggested proposal.
"I see no other way." Cross sighed, casting his mental vote.
"Agreed. I swear to you knights, if you help my people in this fight, I'll mobilize our army immediately to aid Tala'raan." Theoden nodded in agreement. Runa remained silent, but was proud of her husband and his calm reactions.
"Very well. I'll begin mobilizing the rebellion to Valkenheim, once it's united and ready to march, we'll move to reinforce your army." Tristan finished.
"Then that concludes this summit...for now." Vitalion sighed, finally able to end this heated political battle.
So, don't worry about when I posted this chapter. I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. Look, again, thanks for everyone who stays with me this long and doesn't give up for me to post a chapter. I know there's a lot of For Honor stories rising up and are probably better written than mine, but I really do appreciate it when you guys hang around this long and wait for my BS excuses on why I don't make these chapters sooner. Sure I'll say I had a reason, but the excuse always boils down to writer's block. It's every writer's biggest challenge, but it hasn't stopped us from writing yet.
Once again, 1 month later,
DEUS VULT!