Chapter 25- Turning Tides
Calvus looked across at the mainland in shock. He could see the Aurorans crawling out of the crater by the dozens. The morale built by the success of the battle just fought had been destroyed, for that army outnumbered his. It only took them about a minute to get into a rectangular formation that was facing south west. Facing towards Anvil.
"Umaril has changed his plan…" he said to himself. "Rather than kill me and infiltrate the chapels, he's just going to ignore me and take the chapels by force…"
"Crusader!" Stentus asked with concern in his voice, "Do you have any orders?"
Calvus climbed down from the Ayleid ruin and walked past the troops of the 101st Legion, they wordlessly stood aside, waiting for him to say something. Calvus reached the edge of the Island. He could see the figures of the Fighters Guild, Knights and the remaining Legion troops on the mainland running towards the island, putting a safe distance between them and the Auroran army. Calvus had to think, and fast.
There are at least three hundred Daedra on the mainland, and we have already won against about one hundred. Garlas Malatar can't be that big…
"Stentus!" he said loudly over his shoulder.
The Imperial Commander walked calmly to Calvus' side.
"Yes sir?"
"I need to you to fight those Aurorans. Keep them away from Anvil. Send a messenger to alert the town guard, Umaril cannot be allowed to take that city!"
"Crusader, I don't have enough men to win-"
Calvus turned around sharply and looked Stentus in the eyes.
"I don't need you to win commander, I need you to hold them, is that clear?"
"Yessir! But if I may ask, what will you be doing?"
"I'm going to go and kill Umaril. If he dies, the Aurorans will have no master…"
"And you think that will stop them?"
"Yes I do! Now stop asking questions soldier and do your duty!"
"Yessir!"
Stentus saluted and turned to his troops.
"Men! You heard the Crusader, we need to stop those bastards from reaching Anvil! The Crusader won't be joining us, as he is going to be too busy putting holes in Umaril's corpse!"
The men looked up at Stentus, Calvus could feel their morale slowly building again.
"Lanil!" Stentus shouted.
A tall Altmer stood to attention and saluted.
"You are our fastest runner! Go to Anvil and rouse the guard!!"
"Yessir!" the High Elf cried and started running towards the city.
"The rest of you…we are going to fight here, and save the people of Anvil! If we do not, the other chapels will fall, and we will have failed. Now I don't care that our enemies are seven foot tall Daedra, we are Legion! And we are the best damn fighting force in Tamriel!! AM I RIGHT SOLDIERS?"
"AYE COMMANDER!" The Legion shouted in unison, raising their shields and swords high into the air.
"OF COURSE I AM! NOW CROSS THAT BRIDGE AND SHOW THOSE BASTARDS THAT THEY DON'T MESS WITH THE LEGION!" Stentus shouted.
The soldiers cheered and marched over the bridge. After a few minutes they were all on the mainland, and the Aurorans had noticed them. The Daedra formation turned and faced the Legion. Calvus smiled. His plan that he had cobbled together only a few minutes ago was now working. He looked around him. The Knights and the Fighters Guild were still on the island, looking expectantly at him. Only Aranwen looked concerned for Calvus. Calvus was concerned for himself as well. His arms ached from swinging the Sword and Mace, and his voice had started to hurt from giving such loud speeches. But he needed to give another one.
"Loyal Knights of the Nine! Men of the Fighters Guild…" he started.
The small group looked at him intently.
"Lets go kill that son of a bitch!" he growled.
With that he walked up to the large white marble door of the ruin, and put all of his weight against it. The door opened with a loud 'gdumph',and revealed a long staircase descending into a dim light blue light, reflecting off the white walls. He turned to look at the Knights and Fighters Guild behind him.
"And so into hell we march…" he said.
With that he walked into the ruin, and started to make his way down the staircase. When he reached the bottom, he stopped, and listened. He heard the clatter of metal boots on the stone steps behind him, and smiled. These people would follow him into the deepest dungeon if he asked them. Calvus started walking through the corridor of the Ayleid ruin, a corridor that lead into a small chamber. At the opposite end of the room stood four Aurorans, each holding golden halberds and a golden shield. They were over seven foot tall, and some parts of their body were not gold, but black. They stood stock still, but the glowing blue eyes told Calvus that these things were not statues. He strode forward.
"I take it you are Umaril's first line of defence?" he asked.
One of the Aurorans growled, and Calvus heard in his head.
"We are his servants, we do as he commands and we will die for him. You shall not pass, mortal."
"So that leaves me with two options. One: I turn around and tell the Legion fighting outside to stop, and we all go home and let Umaril take over the world. Or two: I stick a sword in your face."
Another Auroran roared loudly, which echoed throughout the small chamber.
"WE ARE HIS SERVANTS, WE DO AS HE COMMANDS AND WE WILL DIE FOR HIM. YOU SHALL NOT PASS, MORTAL."
"Well this conversation isn't going anywhere!" Calvus said loudly as he drew the Sword.
The Auroran guards charged.
***
The Daedra battle line approached the Legion fast, they were charging down the hill, tearing the earth up beneath their clawed feet.
"HOLD FAST BOYS!!" Stentus encouraged.
The Legion dug their heels into the dirt and raised their shields to protect their torsos. Archers fired arrows at the Aurorans formation, and though a few fell it did nothing to stop their advance. They came closer and closer until the soldiers could see their glowing blue eyes clearly.
"I hope the Crusader knows what he is doing…" Stentus said to himself.
***
Calvus ducked as the Halberd flew past his head. He tried to stab at the creature, but it blocked the blow with the golden shield. It attempted another blow, but Calvus parried with the Crusaders shield. A steel arrow then pierced the Aurorans neck, and as black blood spewed from the wound it staggered back. Calvus then saw an opening, and ran the creature through. It screamed and turned to ash like many of its brethren had before it. He turned and saw Aranwen holding her empty bow. She smiled at him in a way which told him 'you owe me', and loaded another arrow.
Sir Brellin and Sir Areldur were attacking a single Auroran guard, but none could find an opening to strike. Modryn Oreyn intervened, and broke the creature's shield with a single blow from his mace, and Brellin's shortsword found an opening. Sir Avita and Sir Lathon were fighting another guard, and after a few blows and spells the creature fell. The last guard retreated to the centre of the room, discarded its shield and held its halberd with both hands. Sir Gukimir stepped forward and attacked it with his claymore, as did Sir Geimund. But neither of the Nords could strike the guard, for it was too good with its weapon. The creature then did something unexpected, it jabbed the end of the halberd into the ground and swung around it, hitting Sir Geimund with its feet. The Nord fell to the floor, and was about to receive a clawed foot to his neck, but Sir Gukimir cut off the creature's leg with his claymore. The Auroran cried and fell to the floor in agony, and Sir Gukimir stomped on its head with his boot.
"How do you like having your head crushed?" he said to it.
Calvus looked around, and because of the lack of things that were trying to cut off his head he made a decision.
"Lets keep moving, we're done here." he said.
His companions nodded and followed him down another corridor, into a small hall with two doors. Calvus pushed against them, but could not open them.
"Crusader! There is a switch here!" Sir Lathon pointed out to him.
"Then push it!" Calvus ordered.
Sir Lathon did so, making both the stone doors slide open, revealing a room full of Aurorans. They turned and looked at the open doors, and the men that stood behind them.
"CHARGE!!" Calvus commanded.
The Knights and Fighters Guild ran forwards, roaring in the faces of their enemies. They poured through the door like a dam had been broken. The men piled into the Aurorans, who were not organised in any formation, and so many fell before they could gather themselves together to fight against the attack. The room was wide enough for the whole force of men, mer and beasts to fight in a line. The ensuing melee was chaotic. Aurorans fell like wheat against Calvus' blade. His Knights fought just as hard, ducking, weaving or cutting through the Aurorans, slaying many. The Fighters Guild continued their mercenary technique, using dirty tactics and their bare hands to kill the Daedra. The battle was fierce, but Calvus feared the tide could turn any moment.
***
Stentus and the Legion braced themselves as the Daedra rushed towards them, but just as they were about to make contact, the Legion shoved the spikes of their shields into their opponents, then finishing them off with sword strokes. The next line of Daedra suffered the same fate, but the next line slowed, and started to surround the Legion. After a few minutes, the whole Legion force was surrounded, but their wall of steel held firm.
Stentus killed an Auroran with his sword, his silver warhammer was on his back. He let a soldier take his place in the wall, and retreated further into the body of fighting men, to contemplate the situation. He looked around and could see that the Legion were surrounded by a golden sea. He quietly muttered a prayer to Talos, and got back into the fight.
***
Calvus noticed a weakness in the Auroran line, and hacked his way through several Aurorans to get through. Sir Carodus and Sir Thredret followed him, managing to get behind the Aurorans. Some turned distracted, and they were swiftly stabbed in the back. Slowly, the Aurorans line became thinner and thinner, until they were engulfed by blades, and were no more.
There was a pile of golden bodies that spanned the hall. A further three fighters guild members had fallen in the battle, but Calvus knew that they had to keep going. Without saying a word, Calvus continued through the halls of Garlas Malatar, followed by his small army. They met little resistance, until they reached a large chamber. The room had only a few Welkynd stones, so the light was dim. Calvus could see a dark spherical object on top of a raised platform, but in front of it were several very angry looking Aurorans. The Knights and Fighters Guild started to combat the Aurorans, but Calvus looked at the dark object and felt that he needed to destroy it.
Calvus sprinted though the mass of Knights and Aurorans fighting each other, ducking as an Auroran axe swiped overhead. He ran up a stone staircase, taking the steps three at a time, until he reached the top of the platform. Calvus reached the object, it looked like a black orb, floating a few feet off of the ground. It emanated an evil energy, which made Calvus shiver. Not wasting any time, he plunged the Sword into the object, which shattered into many pieces. Time slowed. The pieces of the orb slowed through the air, and a great wind started in the chamber. Calvus looked at the battle below him. The figures in it slowed, and faded into nothing. Silence. Calvus turned, and saw a door behind him slide open without a sound. He cautiously walked through it, into darkness.
***
Marsus opened his eyes, and saw a blur. He closed them again, and for a minute thought he was in bed, but then opened his eyes again and dismissed the thought. The blur slowly became focused, and Marsus had to blink several times before he could make out the colour of the room he was in. His body felt weak, and he felt light headed. His vision finally became clear, and looked up. He saw a stained glass window, depicting a fight between a Knight and some kind of monster. A figure then leaned over him. Marsus focused on it. He could make out a man, with a rough face and wearing a chain mail helm. He didn't realise until a few seconds later that the figure was translucent.
"Hello there, you bastard!" Sir Amiel boomed.
"OH SHIT!!!"
***
Calvus found himself in a huge chamber, before him was a shallow pool, filled with crystal clear water. There was a large space between the pool and a staircase that lead up onto a raised platform. Upon it was a throne. And on that throne sat a golden figure. It had wings, wings that had no feathers. The figure had a large Elven claymore across its lap, and looked at Calvus with blank evil eyes.
"Man kana mitta abasel Umarile?" Umaril asked.
'Who dares enter Umaril's forbidden hall?' was whispered in Calvus' mind.
"The Divine Crusader!!" Calvus said boldly.
"Asma bala ni hilyat sino?" Umaril said.
'By what power do you follow here?' Calvus heard.
"The power of the Gods and Pelinal Whitestrake!" Calvus replied.
"Pelinal na vasha. Sa yando tye."
'Pelinal is dead. So will you be.'
"But he killed you before he died! I intent to do the same!"
"Heca!"
'Begone!'
"No."
Umaril then stood up, and grasped his sword with his right hand.
"Abagaianye Ehlnadaya! " he roared.
'I do not fear your mortal Gods!'
"I do not fear you! Pelinal was not afraid of you!" Calvus challenged.
To his surprise Umaril laughed.
"Rahtan Pelinale na anda!"
'Pelinal's reach is long!'
"As is the reach of the Gods! That is why I am here!" Calvus challenged.
Umaril growled deeply.
"As balangua, Ehlnada racuvar!"
'By my power, the mortal Gods shall be cast down!'
"Not if I have to say anything about it!"
Umaril laughed once again.
"Shanta, ehlno. Tyavoy balangua!"
'Come, mortal. Taste my power!'
Umaril stepped down from his throne, and ran at Calvus at a great speed. Calvus readied the Shield. Umaril's sword struck it, and Calvus swiped at Umaril's leg. Umaril took the blow, an attempted another strike, which Calvus blocked. Sparks flew between the metal of their blades. The two opponents circled each other, and Umaril charged forward again, knocking Calvus to the ground. Umaril raised his sword, but Calvus rolled aside, Umaril's blade struck the white stone floor. Calvus retreated to the other side of the room, and Umaril laughed. He flung his arms out to the sides, and his golden wings flapped. He slowly rose into the air, and flew at Calvus like a dart. Calvus dodged aside, Umaril regained control, and floated at the top of the room.
"HOW DARE YOU! NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT YOU FLYING!" he screamed.
As his blood boiled, he felt something, like an energy that had suddenly opened up to him. He looked down, and saw the Crusader's relics glowing bright blue. His limbs felt vitalised, he felt invigorated.
"Looks likes the relics are angry as well!" he said triumphantly.
He leapt up into the air, to the top of the chamber, and floated next to a surprised Umaril.
"Hello!" he said as the Sword struck one of Umaril's wings.
Umaril screeched and flew back down to the bottom of the chamber. Adrenaline pumped through Calvus' veins, and he felt invincible. He swooped over Umaril, and swiped at him with his blade. Umaril ducked, and retreated back to his throne. Calvus slung the Shield on his back, and took the Mace from his belt. He threw it at Umaril, and the Mace Struck Umaril across the face, denting his armour and breaking the bones in his face. Calvus laughed, and sped towards Umaril, holding his sword like a lance. As he got near he thrust the Sword into Umaril's chest. But at the same time he felt a blinding pain and closed his eyes.
When he opened them, he was looking right into Umaril's eyes. He was smiling. Calvus let go of the sword, and watched as Umaril fell to the ground. But then he looked down. Umaril's claymore had gone straight through him, piercing the Cuirass. Blood spewed forth from Calvus' wound. Calvus collapsed onto the ground, the Helm fell off his head and bounced down the white steps.
Calvus felt cold. Blood started to seep from his lips. As his vision darkened, he raised his hand into the air, and muttered.
"May...Talos...guide me…"
A white light momentarily flared up around him, and then Calvus felt his body go colder and colder. His vision went black.
***
Aranwen plunged the silver shortsword that Calvus had given her into the neck of an Auroran, and withdrew it. She looked around, and saw the others finishing of the other wounded Daedra. She looked for Calvus, but could not see him.
"Where is the Crusader?" she said aloud.
Sir Thredret looked around, and could not see him either.
"Did anyone see where the Crusader went?" he asked.
"I think I saw him go up the steps." Sir Avita replied.
"Follow me, we need to find him!" Sir Thredret said.
Aranwen followed the Knight up the steps, through a door and down a dark hall. They came out into a large chamber, with a shallow pool and a throne upon a raised platform. She looked into the pool. Blood had stained it. She saw the white stone steps covered in red blood and ran up them. Sir Thredret noticed the Helm of the Crusader at the bottom of the steps, and picked it up.
"Oh no…" he said.
Aranwen reached the top of the stairs and saw Calvus' limp body in a pool of blood, next to what looked like a very large Auroran.
"NO!" she screamed.
She knelt next to the body. Calvus' lips were blue, his skin was pale. He was dead. Aranwen burst into tears, and collapsed over the body of the man she loved, sobbing as she held it tightly.
"No…" she whimpered.