Okay, so before we start, I'm PISSED! I had the entire chapter ready to go, but I went to bed the night before I wanted to post. The next day, I look for the file, GONE! The computer labeled it as 'file corrupted.' Amazing, I had to completely start this chapter from scratch, and I'm mad cause this chapter seemed so good to me! And I usually critique the hell out of my chapters. With that out of the way...chapter 25! This story is now not only my most successful, but my longest because it's not over after this chapter, once I put up 26 it'll be my longest story. A year after the game's release and so much has changed to the game and this story. It's not been flawless writing from me, not at all. But after seeing that my story, among all the stories about For Honor, is one of the largest and has the most reviews, I'd say I'm proud of myself. But I always think it could be so much better. But you people keep reading it so I keep writing it, despite that I've taken too many breaks in between chapters.
Jacklyn roared, falling into the barbarian ranks, her sword impaled a warrior. The Ashfield army crashed against the barbarian force with a titanic clash of steel on flesh and wood. Tristan and Stone fought side by side to reach their female companion.
Jacklyn swung her sword with such fury, none had seen the likes of before. One unfortunate barbarian who got close in a vain attempt to fight her was quickly cut in half by the ferocity of her swings.
Mercy directed their archers from above the pass, dozens were falling to the storm of arrows.
Morgan's force followed him, they awaited the order to join the fight...if they were even needed.
Tristan ducked under an axe swing, driving his sword into the side of the barbarian's torso. He avoided another warrior's attack before swinging his longsword upwards, slicing the man's arm clean off. The barbarian didn't have time to feel pain as Tristan removed his head from the shoulders.
Stone bashed a barbarian's skull, knocking the man out cold. He turned and quickly deflected an attack and proceeded to wrap his flail around the man's arm; he pulled tightly, ripping the barbarian's arm off.
The knight soldiers held strong against the barbarians. Stone's conquerors were holding the brunt of the attack from the barbarian infantry and reavers. Apollyon's infantry that wasn't committed turned back and returned to where it came.
Jacklyn impaled a barbarian on her sword and hoisted his corpse into the air before dropping him. She cut through them like hot butter, nothing could slow her down. The female warden was determined to redeem herself, in blood, for what she helped bring upon Valkenheim.
Tristan was taken back by how ferociously Jacklyn was fighting. Of course this was no easy fight, but she was acting as if it was only her against thousands.
Oswald and his highlanders gladly joined the knights in the fight along with Helvar, Siv, Stigandr and their forces.
Oswald roared, swinging his sword in huge arcs, sending several barbarians flying away from his sheer inhumane strength. He felt a pain in his side, a barbarian had created a large gash across his back; he grabbed the man by the throat and crashed his skull against the savage's own.
Stigandr found himself fighting close to Stone, he laughed at how the conqueror was wielding his shield.
"Interesting, you use your shield as if it's a hiding place!" he taunted, Stone finished another barbarian during this.
"It's unwise to leave my flanks open in open combat! I'm trained to defend myself from all angles, unlike how you fight with a much different shield, viking!" Stone wrapped his flail around a barbarian's neck and proceeded to snap it.
Stig bashed a warrior to the ground before beheading the savage, laughing in response to Stone's words.
"So you bite! Good!" he grinned.
Siv hurled one of her axes, the weapon flew straight into a barbarian's skull. She ducked under an attack and drove her free blade directly into the tribesman's gut before finally retrieving her other axe.
Theoden watched in envy as his friends went to battle without him, knowing Stigandr wouldn't hear any argument from the Oberjarl.
Tristan admired the view of knight and viking warriors standing side-by-side in due combat; the scary part about it was that no soldiers from both sides seemed uneasy about fighting alongside each other. They all fought together as if they'd been trained to do so.
It wasn't long before the remnants of the hopeless barbarian and Blackstone troops were finished. They knew death was upon them when all their reinforcements returned atop the mountain pass.
The knight and viking forces advanced, surrounding the rest of the enemy. It was mere moments before all that could be heard was the silent aftermath of battle.
Jacklyn was panting, her blade still buried in the skull of a Blackstone captain, peering around as if to locate another target. Tristan grasped her shoulder- she jumped back in reaction, ready to fight. Her blade dropped back upon seeing him.
"It's over, they've retreated for now." he assured her.
…
The knights finally finished establishing their camp alongside the Warborn army's own. Throughout the viking camp, several groups of warriors could be heard singing their songs of victory. The knight camp was filled with the sound of drilling and training alike.
On the edges of both camps, in between the gap was a central tent, meant for the leaders of both sides to converse.
Tristan had his helmet resting on the table, alongside Theoden's own, a symbol of peace between the two factions. Tristan was the one moving their pieces, the blue ones were his own forces, the red was Theoden's, the orange and brown figurines were Apollyon's troops and the barbarians.
"We must assume that they have us outnumbered, and unless reinforcements from Tala'raan come, we're on our own. My forces will hold the main battle line, our shock troops will be invaluable in the defense." he moved a blue piece to the entrance of the mountain pass, it was a crude but effectively drawn map of the field.
"My archers will be stationed on both sides of the pass, as well as your spear and Francisca throwers." he moved a blue and red piece to both sides of the pass.
"However, we'll need the viking soldiers to be ready at a moments notice, the only way to fight a prolonged battle is to have infantry rotations." he moved a red piece behind the first blue piece. The warden then moved two orange and brown figurines onto the actual pass location.
Daubeny pointed to what looked like just a line on the map of the mountains and the pass.
"What's this here?" he asked, Theoden looked to the grizzled mercenary's focus.
"It's a place on the mountain that could be used to avoid the main pass, but it's so treacherous that only a fool would move forces through it." Theoden dismissed the knight mercenary's worries, but Jacklyn and Tristan both weren't quite convinced. The two both mentally elected to move past that subject.
"Overall, 'tis likely that we'll manage to hold the Blackstones and barbarians off long enough to render their numbers useless, but only the next battle will have our answers. Until then, I want constant patrols of the pass, if they so much as hear a single barbaric chant, I want to know. Dismissed, I recommend that everyone get some rest." the rebellion's general let out a gentle breath as the commanders left the tent.
Outside, Sir'Morgan stood a constant vigil, always ready for a fight to come his way, at least, that was until he felt foreign eyes upon him.
His eyes wandered, until they met those of a viking woman, a raider, judging by her build. The woman was no more than '5,10', broad, muscular, lean, and her armor also gave it away along with her large axe, which was resting gently against her own possessions.
He felt unsure as to why the woman was staring at him in such a way, he could see the gleam in her eyes, nearly hidden by the woman's helmet.
Helmet or no helmet, he could perfectly read the emotion in her eyes: it was one of lust. He had noticed the uneasy air present, soldiers from both sides had been delving into their more carnal instincts. It was also evident that he had seen soldiers from both sides rutting like animals together.
The woman removed her helmet, fiery red hair fell out in a long braid, the fire perfectly reflected her bright, green eyes and her pale skin. The knight could barely keep his eyes from her; she was attractive, her face itself wasn't one of a goddess-turned-mortal, but just a pretty woman. It was her body that made him gulp nervously, her strong muscles along her biceps, hardened abdomen, powerful thighs that extended up to her curved hips.
The centurion couldn't deny either that the woman had noticeable cleavage, but then again, her armor didn't leave much to the imagination. That was normal though, she was a raider, they had no need of heavy, slow armor.
'Nor fear.' he thought to himself.
He held his breath as she approached him suddenly. Everything around the woman and where she walked seemed to slow down, but not her. He couldn't tear his gaze from her, no matter how hard he tried.
Truth be told, Morgan Ajax had never been with a woman...not intimately anyhow. Thus, he had little experience and didn't know how to react as the viking woman, obviously confident in herself, strode closer to him.
She now stood just feet away from him, still focusing intently on him.
"You, knight, what is yer name?" she asked, her voice was obviously once elegant, but after years of fighting in such a way that you are known for deadly war cries, the raider's vocals had a raspy addition to them.
"M-my name?" he asked quizzically, not prepared for the woman to know the common tongue that well. Her accent was evident, he knew the leaders of the vikings, Theoden, Stigandr, Runa and all the others, were taught well and adjusted themselves to speak fluently in their own language and that of the knights.
"Yes, yer name, or do yer ears simply not work correctly?" she joked, smirking wickedly, a hand on her hip.
He found his voice finally, "My name, is Sir'Morgan Ajax, right hand to General Tristan. And might l ask you for your name?" he didn't falter finally, for he was proud of his title.
"Sigrid." she spoke calmly, her accent thick when pronouncing her name.
"Well, Sigrid, a...pleasure to make your acquaintance." he spoke, trying to hide his nervousness.
"You're quite a treat, ye've got a strong build under all that armor, I can tell." she continued to smirk, he swore that a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"...Thank you...I think." he gulped as she inched a bit closer, he could feel heat radiating off her body, despite the cold air of winter...she was a viking after all.
"So, why aren't ye with a woman to keep ye warm tonight?" Sigrid questioned him.
"I...don't have one, even if I had the ti-" he never finished the sentence.
"Hva?!" Sigrid sounded surprised, speaking in her native language.
"How can a man like yerself not be spoken for? Unless…ye prefer…?" she asked concernedly.
"NO! Nonononono, I prefer the company of women. It's just that...being a devoted knight, leaves little time for such...desires." he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well...tomorrow, or whenever the next battle comes, ye might not get the chance. Ever. Any of us could die, for it will be bloody, Ye, I, anyone might be killed soon. Would hate for a man such as yerself to be wasted because ye take your duty seriously. Come, my tent is big enough for us to share." Sigrid smirked, he looked dumbfounded. The woman surprised him further when she pressed her soft, luscious lips against his. His eyes shot open in shock, but finally, for moments that felt like hours, he relaxed into the kiss.
She pulled back, smiling gorgeously, making his heart skip a beat. "I...what?" he was flustered as the woman took a hold of his armored hand and pulled him gently, confused when he resisted.
"I'm on watch, I mustn't abandon my duty, not even for this." his body screamed at him, this woman was offering to share with him the most intimate two human beings could do together, and he was still being the ever-good chivalrous knight.
A plated gauntlet grasped Morgan's shoulder, he turned to see Holden, helmet in hand and smirking.
"Actually, I'm to relieve Sir'Morgan for the night, Tristan believes he deserves some kind of break form duty, so, do as you both please for the night." he smirked.
Morgan's eyes lit up, he made several sputters of confusion, yet he sounded joyful, and lost for words.
It was then that Sigrid finally pulled his hand enough to nearly yank Morgan off his feet that he gave in and followed her willingly. The raider and centurion disappeared into the viking camp to have 'alone time', with each other.
He genuinely laughed, but a dark, stoic look on his face took over as he seemed to be thinking intently.
He looked upon the mountain and sighed, he leaned on his halberd a bit.
…
The Blackstone capital fortress was a true sight to behold. Holden breathed deeply as the wind crept across his armor.
He turned back and marched into Apollyon's meeting room. Many were doubting her leadership, she had usurped control over the Blackstone Legion and shocked them all with her plans. This meeting was to be held with him- the senior lawbringer, Mercy- their best peacekeeper, Daveth- their best warden in the legion. Sadly, their senior conqueror position had yet to be filled.
Among these warriors were the Blackstone Legion's top captains.
He took his place at the table, one captain was already spouting worries of her actions and the possible consequences.
"If the commanders of the Iron Legions, of Tala'raan, knew about this-GAH!" he gasped as a longsword shot up through his chest, blood spraying onto the table and coating the blade.
The blade was retracted and the corpse fell onto the war table, revealing Apollyon, releasing a sigh of relief.
"Now, we can speak freely." she chimed.
A captain off to the side, sitting awkwardly in a chair chuckled.
"Well, that's a relief." he stood up, moving to the table.
"We're all your humble servants, master." Holden spoke calmly, Apollyon turned her gaze to him, he could feel her inviting eyes.
The captain took a breath, "So. What is the real plan?" he asked quizzically.
Apollyon looked around, at all of her advisers.
"War." she said without hesitation. Her gaze turned to the other captain's corpse laying across the table.
She reached out, "The natural state of our species." she lifted the fallen knight off the table and threw him to the hard, stone ground.
"And yet these...monsters flee from it." She slammed her blade flat side down into the table.
"They're cowards. We must be brave for them." she looked at the map before them.
Holden leaned down onto the war table. "We cannot hope to trigger war everywhere." he looked back to Apollyon.
"We can. If we recruit our enemies, to the cause." she said seriously.
Moments later, she sighed. "All of you, dismissed." she signaled for them to leave. "Someone get rid of this." she gestured towards the corpse. The other captain and Daveth carried the corpse out.
Holden made his way for the door, but her plated hand stopped him.
"I would see you...alone." she said in a sultry tone.
She immediately slammed the double doors closed and locked them. She turned her gaze to the lawbringer, she lifted her helmet off of her head. Her features were revealed to the light, at one point, she was rather beautiful, in a grim, stoic way. Age had added to that, but the former warden was still attractive.
Holden copied her actions and lifted his helmet from his head. His stoic face was sincere instead of blank.
She got close to him, throwing both her gauntlets onto the table and began unclasping the fastenings to her waist cover as well as the plates along her legs. He felt himself heat up a bit, his armor began to feel a bit heavier than usual.
"It has been some time since...we had a room to ourselves." she then proceeded to remove her pauldrons and the armor covering her biceps.
"Well, I'd never do anything to jeopardize your public image. The lord Apollyon, in a scandal with lawbringer Holden Cross. The people would never let you live it down." he smiled gently.
She brushed her brown ponytail aside. "Well...now we've got a room to ourselves. Now, remind me of the wolf I saw in you." she grinned wickedly.
Holden hadn't let her finish before his armor began clattering to the ground. She had been purposely slow with removing her armor, he was just trying to get it off as quickly as possible. He finally stood on nothing more than his underclothes. She awaited him, her chainmail undercoat and breastplate remaining between him and her.
He grabbed her by the hips and lifted Apollyon off the ground. He carried her to the table, her legs wrapped tightly around his back. The lawbringer leaned down, and swept his arm across the table, throwing the map, wine glasses, everything in his way.
Finally, Holden pressed her firmly into the table. The two finally let themselves slip into their animalistic nature, their lips met in fiery passion, Holden felt her undo his shirt, gently unfastening the ties. She then removed her leggings, sliding them past her waist, their lips never separating. He fumbled with her clasps, unable to get a hold on them. He, out of frustration, growled and ripped her shirt in half, leaving her bare before him. She pulled back, her cheeks flushed, grinning.
She looked over to the remains of her shirt.
"A pity...I rather liked that shirt." she wickedly smirked, before the two met each other in another deepening kiss.
…
Holden still loved Apollyon, but the women was determined to let the oceans run red with blood.
'If only you weren't insane Apollyon, you'd be the leader our kingdom needed...and the woman I remember from our days as children.' the Lawbringer turned his attention back to watch duty.
…
(Everwinter, Ashfield)
The crowds had been shocked at the astounding number of gladiators that arrived to their city. Three thousand gladiators, all ready to fight.
Varrus stood before them all, the irregulars awaited his command.
"As of now, our Imperial neighbors are in danger. I'll not sit idly by and let barbarians destroy their homes and families." he slammed the butt of his trident against the ground.
"March swiftly, organized, and with purpose, for every moment is precious now!" he roared.
"Ready, with me! To the Myre!" he called.
…
(The Imperial City, The Myre)
Hattori looked upon their defenses, siege weapons were prepared to fire upon anything in range. Archers were lined on every wall.
At the gates, militias, Samurai officers, Shugoki' and the Aramusha were determined to be the first line of defense. Kensei' would join the battle when needed, so too would the Shinobi, Nobushi, and Orochi.
Okuma, Momiji, Rakeish, and Asano stood behind their force to give direction. Seijuro, Ayu and Hattori stood on the main wall, awaiting for the battle to start.
Ayu turned to her army, the once mighty Chosen army, reduced to militias and irregulars, but no matter what situation you're in, you go to war with the army you have.
"...The Dawn Empire has never had an easy past. Upon our founding, many rose up to topple our mighty empire, civil wars broke out all across the Myre. We call the Myre our home after our lands were torn apart by the Earth beneath us."
"Then, after balance was restored, the Barbarian invasions began. We, alongside the Iron Legions and the Viking Tribes stood valiantly alongside each other. Now, we face the barbarians yet again, and we must rely on our neighbors to bring us aid...lest we be overrun and destroyed. Until they arrive, we must fight for our lives. Fight as true Chosen, and make our people proud. Make Tozen proud." the Empress chanted.
And so, I know, 60% of this chapter was very borderline explicit themes. But I felt some character depth was needed, y'know, to give Morgan more importance, and Apollyon, I felt we needed to remind ourselves she's still a human, not the armor. And I originally didn't plan to have Holden and Apollyon be together, but it actually works to be honest. There's a word for trying to give a character more depth and I can't remember it. But anyway, the real battle is gonna start soon. I promise.
DEUS VULT!