Somewhere in the City of Ur
"Damnit, where the hell's our way out of this city?"
Justinia patted the redhead's back as they traversed the western part of the city. Though not voicing it, she was asking the same thing too. Ever since they left the Gnawed Adventurer on dawn, they've been walking through the city for what felt like hours. The sun was glaring down on them making Valerius and Justinia slightly uncomfortable as their sweat ran down their bodies thanks to their armor making it hotter than it already was. If you ask her, she'd say they were being cooked alive. Maia, on the other hand, just let the morning breeze cool her. Due to her choice of attire, she was the only of the three not swimming in their own sweat.
Meanwhile, Valerius looked around him as he tried to figure out if they were in the right path to the western gate. Honestly, he had no fucking clue as to where they are. He studied the maps, sure, but with everything that had happened. Can you blame him for forgetting a few things from the map of the city? The Captain stopped and motioned for the other two as well.
"Alright, we'll stop here for a bit. Then we... " He looked at the fork on the road and turned to the left "Go that way."
"Do you even know where we're going?" Maia asked as she wiped the sweat off her brow before crossing her arms. She was sick and tired of this godforsaken and rat-infested city. Everywhere they went there were fucking rats there! The whole city is like a fucking nest. Hell, maybe it is. If they ever get out of here, the first thing she was gonna do was take a nice, warm, relaxing bath. Wash away all the blood and guts off her body and places she didn't even knew she had.
"Of course I do." Valerius replied before looking away "Maybe."
"What kind of a prick idiot are you?"
"I don't know. The good kind?" Valerius answered with a shrug before sitting on the ground and resting his back on the wall of a building.
"Uh, guys."
The two looked at the silver haired Knight and saw her pointing at something in the distance. Their eyes travelled to where Justinia was pointing and saw the horde of rats running at them from down the street.
"Fuck!" Maia cursed before unsheathing her sword and dagger.
Valerius quickly jumped to his feet and raised his Hand Cannons. He fired his weapons and struck true, killing some of the Skavenslaves at the front before putting away the Hand Cannon in his right hand and replacing it with his sword. Justinia, who had already drew her Zweihänder, dropped into a stance before swinging widely as the ratmen was close enough. The action managed to take out a group of Skavenslaves. The Knight raised her blade high above her head before bringing it down with enough force to break a Skaven's shield in two before proceeding to run the rat through with her sword. She pulled her blade free without loosing her momentum and swung widely, cutting another Skaven in two. The Knight quickly raised her blade to block a strike from a rusted blade and stared at her opponent. The two locked their swords before Justinia punched the Skaven in the across the face. This made the rat let go of it's weapon as it was sent into a daze. She didn't give it time to revover before cutting it's head off in one swing, the blood spraying from it's headless body adding more blood onto the surface of her armor.
Maia used her agility and swiftness to dodge from her opponents' attacks. While the bulk of the horde focused on trying to overwhelm the other two, some of the Skaven had their attention on her. She lead the group opposing her away from the other two and had enough room on the street to outmaneuver the rats. She parried a strike for her head before kicking the Skaven in the gut. Maia jumped back to avoid a slash to her gut before kicking the attacker's blade away and then stabbing it's forearm. The rat squealed in pain as she twisted with all her might, dislocating the arm in process before jamming her sword straight through the Skaven's skull. She didn't have time to pull the sword out as she bent backwards to avoid a Skaven's swing before grabbing it's arm then pulled down hard. The redhead then proceeded to assault the Skaven with multiple strikes from her elbow while still keeping a firm grasp on it's arm with her left hand. She then reached for another dagger from her belt then plunged it down the Skaven's head. Both threats dead, she let go of the arm and pulled her dagger free from the corpse before moving over to the other dead rat and doing the same to her sword.
Meanwhile, Valerius swung up and cutting the rat in front of him on the chest before pointing his Hand Cannon to it's head and pulled the trigger. The immediate result was the Skaven getting it's head blown off into chunks. If he weren't so surrounded, he would've laughed like a maniac. It was somehow satisfying to see a Skaven's head get blown off into bits of blood and brain matter. His instincts screamed at him and he swung around him just in time to block a sword from splitting his head like a melon. With their blades locked, Valerius quickly kicked back the rat right into other Skaven before shooting it in the chest. One of the rats managed to get a cut on his back but he quickly rectified this by cutting off it's sword arm then it's head.
"Come on, you rat fucks. That all you lot got!?" The Captain taunted even as the horde surrounded him.
On the other end of the battle, Justinia finished off a rat by cutting it in two. One jumped on her back and tried to stab her with a rusted dagger but she grabbed hold of it's forearm before it could plunge it down her chest then flipped the Skaven over. Still holding onto the arm, she raised her boot and crushed the rat's head. Despite the sickening action, she kept the contents of her stomach in before retrieving her sword. Then, she heard the roar. She looked to the source to see a Rat Ogre charging at them with a Skaven on it's back. The rat on it's back laughed maniacally as it held on to the rope around the Rat Ogre's neck with one hand while waving the severed head of a Footman around in the other.
Valerius roared as he finished off a Skaven by bringing down his sword into it's head all the way down to the neck. He had lost count on how many he had killed nor did he notice that Maia was fighting next to him. The redhead just finished slitting a Skaven's throat and kicking it down, watching as it desperately clutched it's profusely bleeding throat tightly. The two heard a roar and saw the Rat Ogre and it's rider running towards them, crushing or backhanding any of the other Skaven in it's way.
Acting quickly, Valerius grabbed a discarded round shield and used it to push his way out of the horde, Maia following behind. They made it out just in time to avoid getting trampled by the large rat. Justinia, however, wasn't so lucky. The Rat Ogre stopped in front of her and roared as it brought it's arms up before slamming it down on the ground. The shockwave of the slam sent her flying back, landing a few feet away on her front. Her sword far from her reach.
The rats moved to swarm her but her prone form but the Rat Ogre backhanded them away or crushed them. It loomed over the fallen Knight and raised it's fists high in the air, intent on crushing the silverette to death. The rat on it's back laughed more intensely, still waving the severed head around like a toy. Before it could kill the Knight, Valerius shot it's rider in the back. The result was a large bloody hole in it's chest. It took a second before the body fell back, mouth agape as it stared blankly into the sky. With the loss of it's rider, the Rat Ogre turned it's attention towards the Captain who stood over dozens and dozens of dead skaven. Behind him, Maia was busy fighting off the remaining Skaven who hadn't turned tail when they saw their numbers were dwindling.
"Come on, you big bastard." Valerius let out a bloodthirsty grin behind his helmet as he stared at the Rat Ogre "Was that your friend? Sorry not sorry."
The Rat Ogre roared before grabbing a large piece of debris and threw it at the Captain. Valerius' grin vanished as he looked at the debris sailing through the air towards him.
"Bugger me."
He rolled out of the debris' way before sheathing his sword and taking out his other Hand Cannon. With two Boomsticks in hand, he began to fire at the charging brute. Despite getting hit, the Rat Ogre ignored the shots and kept to it's charge. The Rat Ogre reached him and, before he could dodge out of the way, grabbed him by the leg and threw him to a wall like a rag doll. Valerius screamed in pain, grabbing the attention of the third member of their group.
Maia severed the head of the last Skaven before hearing Valerius' scream. She turned around to see the Rat Ogre slowly making it's way to the downed Captain before her eyes lay to the unmoving form of Justinia.
"Damn it."
Without hesitation, she rushed the beast with the intent of jumping up it's back and stabbing it in the head multiple times. Maia pulled out her daggers and quickly jumped to the Rat Ogre's back while it was still turned away from her. The redhead buried both blades into it's back before pulling out her other dagger to repeatedly stab it in the head while holding on to one of the daggers to keep herself from getting thrown off the Rat Ogre as it tried to shake her off. She then noticed this was the same Rat Ogre they encountered from before.
"Round two, bitch!"
Valerius groaned in pain as he sat himself against the wall, clutching the arm that slammed into the wall. He didn't need a healer to tell him his shoulder was dislocated. Grabbing one of his Hand Cannons, he raised it with a shaking hand before willing himself to steady his remaining arm and pulled the trigger. He still had to thank Sarah for giving him these enchanted Hand Cannons. No need to reload after all. His shots hit their mark but the beast ignored it in favor of trying to shake off Maia. He took a moment to look at to where he last saw Justinia only to see her gone. Even her sword.
So distracted was the beast that it didn't notice the Knight running towards it. It only noticed the Knight when she buried her whole blade into it's chest. The Rat Ogre roared in pain before trying to backhand the Knight but Justinia jumped back to avoid it. She quickly grabbed two rusted swords and buried them all the way to the hilt on the Rat Ogre's abdomen. Dodging it's attacks, she grabbed more swords and did the same but this time, she buried them on the beast's back. The Knight grabbed whatever weapon she can find and buried it in the beast on whatever places she could stuck it in.
Meanwhile, Maia managed to stab the beast in it's eye and left the dagger sticking out of the eye socket. She then used another dagger to stab it in the remaining eye. The beast roared in pain before finally managing to throw the redhead off of it's back. Maia landed painfully on her back before getting back up. She looked back at the Rat Ogre to see it swinging it's arms around trying to hit anything.
'Good luck doing that with no eyes, pal.'
Unsheathing her sword, she ran towards the Rat Ogre and dodged it's random attacks before cutting it behind the legs. From his spot, Valerius shot the Rat Ogre in it's other leg. This caused the beast to drop to it's knees with it's arms falling to it's sides. Justinia saw this and made her way over to the beast. Grabbing the handle of her Zweihänder, she twisted back and forth before slowly pulling it out then suddenly wrenching it free. The Rat Ogre fell on all fours, breathing heavily as it's wounds bled and soaked the very ground it was on. Justinia walked over to it's side before raising her blade high into the air. With a roar, she brought it down hard. The head fell along with the body, dead at last.
Maia let out a tired sigh of relief before retrieving her weapons from the beast's corpse. She looked over to Valerius and saw him unmoving against the wall with his head down. The redhead quickly ran towards the Captain and wrenched off his helmet. She saw that he was still breathing but only softly. Maia then saw his shoulder and knew it was dislocated. She looked up to Justinia and motioned her head at the Captain's dislocated shoulder. The Knight nodded and crouched down while the redhead steadied the unconscious Captain. The two silently nodded before Justinia snapped the shoulder back into place. The result was immediate.
"BLOODY FUCKING HELL!"
~Line Break~
"BLOODY FUCKING HELL!"
Sylvanas' ear twitched as she heard the yell from atop the wall. She was making her rounds on the west entrance when she heard the scream.
'At least we know they're on the right side of the city.'
The Ranger-General looked to Sergeant Andrew.
"Set up a perimeter around the entrance. They're bound to be there before night falls."
"Yes, milady!"
Sylvanas watched the Footman leave before setting her sights back to the ravaged city. There must be away to cleanse this city of the Skaven. Until the majority of their army returned from Kühlschrank, all they could do was contain the infestation in Ur but for how long? They could call on the Seven Shields but even after nearly a year since sending the Black Dogs running with their tails between their legs, they still had much to take care of. Traitors, spies, internal conflicts, new reforms and politics. There was also the pirate threat and those from the other worlds. They weren't the only ones sent here after all. Who knows what those beams of light might spit out next? The Undead? A demon king and his legion of demons? A book about the dead? Hell, maybe even beings from the stars. She'll be damned before they ask the Orcs for help. They may have a Non-aggression Pact but that doesn't mean they were wanted anywhere near their borders, no matter what that Shrine Maiden says.
"My Lady, the soldiers have finished setting up the perimeter. What else do you command, Ranger-General?"
"Double the number of Rangers here. If the Captain and his company do get here, we'll try and keep the rats off their back. There's no telling how many would be after them."
The Ranger bowed her head before leaving. Sylvanas took out an arrow from her quiver and nocked an arrow before slightly raising her aim then let loose. The arrow sailed through the air and struck a Skaven that was on top of a bell tower in the head. Her lips twitched into a small smirk as she watched the body fall into the streets below. Not bad but she could do better.
~Line Break~
Valerius breathed heavily as he clutched his arm with an iron grip. Bloody bints couldn't have given him a warning? Well, he couldn't really blame them. After all, they did just realigned his shoulder back into place while he was drifting off to dream about a naked Half-elf Paladin and a scarlet haired Bounty Hunter helping him with his more primal needs. It was a damn good dream.
The two slowly helped him up to his feet and Maia handed him his Hand Cannon. He nodded his thanks and clipped it back to his belt before bending down and picking up his second Hand Cannon. With one arm disabled for now, he was stuck using a Hand Cannon. He gripped the weapon tightly before turning to the other two.
"Any of you hurt bad?"
"It hurts when I breathe but I'll be fine for now." Justinia answered.
"Other than my back and sore muscles, I'm fine." Maia said as she stopped looking around them for any sign of the rats.
"Good. Then let's get the fuck out of here."
"Couldn't agree more."
"I second the notion."
"Hey, look at this."
Maia bent down and picked up a shiny gold lamp. It was rather light for something that looked like it was made from gold. In fact, it was so light it was like the thing wasn't even made of gold. Probably not really. But maybe she could give this to Prim. Little miss pinky always loved shiny things.
Without another word, the three left the street and back into their path. Luckily for them, getting slammed around by that Rat Ogre managed to jog Valerius' memory and the Captain led them to the path of their escape. The two thanked the Goddess while Valerius thanked the Light and his damn brain. Thirty eight and he was already feeling like he was too old for this crap.
After walking for what seemed like a long time, the trio finally saw the group of Footmen by the wall. Letting out a smile, Valerius led the two into their allies. One of the Footmen, Sergeant Andrew, saw them and immediately ran to their side. Calling for a Physician or Priest or just any damn healer they had.
"Captain. Thank the Light you're alive. The men were thinking you might have been rat crap by now." He then faced the two women "My Lady. Fair Knight. The Seven Shields were getting worried about you. One day more and they would've sent someone to look for you in the city. But what are we still doing here? Come on, let's you get you out of this shithole. Maybe get you three a nice bath back at the Capital. I should inform you that Ranger-General Sylvanas had been assigned to take quarantine off your hands. She'll be the one ordering us from now on."
"Can't say I'll miss this fucking city." Maia sighed out as they made their way out of the west gate. They were rushed to a tent where they were lain down onto beds as Physicians looked them over before a Priest came to heal them with the Light. Hopefully. The Priest assigned to them was just an apprentice. The real Priest was busy inside an outhouse. Apparently, food poisoning was not something the Light could heal.
From her position across Maia, Justinia could see the glint in the redhead's eyes as she looked over at the Priest Apprentice. Scowling, she gave the woman a hard glare that was enough for Maia to notice.
"Don't even think about it." Justinia warned "He's just a boy. Barely in his twenties. You'll break him."
"What? Are you jealous?"
"No. But I do pity him. You're choice of partners are soldiers and wenches. I would not have you adding Priest Apprentice into that long list of yours."
"Maybe I could share him with you? Would you like that?"
The two women glared at each other for what seemed like forever before bursting into laughter. Valerius and the young Priest Apprentice, Hugh, raised their brow at the sight before Hugh went back to healing the Captain's shoulder. Said Captain shook his head and let the Priest Apprentice do his work.
"Women."
When their wounds where healed and they were given a new set of clothing after they were unceremoniously doused with buckets of cold water, he swore Sylvanas was among the people that did that, they were sent off to the next carriage out of Ur and into the Capital. To Maia, she was excited to visit the Capital once more. After putting her little spat with the Dwarven duo, Bhog and Shorty about her choice of armor, she became a frequent customer to the two. Buying sets of sturdy and deadly weapons from their Workshop. Justinia, on the other hand, had never been to the Capital and was excited to see it. Meanwhile, Valerius was looking out the window of the carriage and wonder if Joan was in the Capital.
~Line Break~
Western Forests of Kühlschrank
"See anything?"
"Nothing. Blizzard is too thick. I can't see a damn thing."
"Oi, watch your step. There's a bump on the path."
"What are you talking abou- "
The Footman yelped as he fell down into the snowy ground. He wasn't hurt but he did look back at what caused his fall and gasped as he saw the dead Grell staring at him, mouth agape. Two other Footmen pulled him to his feet and they stared at the frostbitten corpse on the ground.
"Guess the cold doesn't discriminate us from them." One Footman joked.
The Sergeant leading them, however, was looking around them suspiciously. Several lumps on the snow were surrounding them. He kicked one over and revealed another dead barbarian but this one was missing an arm. Torn off by an animal it seems. He ordered the rest of his troop to check the bodies and were disgusted at what they saw. Almost all of them were eaten at some point. Limbs were torn. Some didn't even have heads anymore. Crushed by something heavy if they had to guess. The Sergeant felt something fall onto his shoulder and looked up at the trees. He raised his torch and narrowed his eyes. Something moved but before he could voice it out, a large thing fell on him.
The Footmen drew back as a beast as tall as an Orc with long, muscular arms with claw-tipped fingers and a large mouth filled with rows of jagged teeth. It's head looked like that of an ape but the most distinguishing feature about it was the third eye on it's forehead. The beast roared and beat it's chest before grabbing the struggling Sergeant's arm and ripping it off in one mighty pull. It raised it's foot and brought it down the Footman's head, crushing it and staining the white ground red with blood.
"Kill the big bastard!" A Footman screamed as he charged the beast.
The Frost Troll roared and slammed it's fists into the ground, throwing the charging Footman back with the shockwave of it's attack and slamming the soldier into a tree. The others charged and stabbed or cut the beast. Despite cutting and wounding it, the beast simply shrugs off their attacks. It enclosed it's massive hand around a Footman's head in lifted him off the ground. His comrades tried to free him but it was in vain as the Frost Troll crushed the man's head then threw his body away. The beast backhanded another Footman who was sent flying, helmet gone. The Footman landed on a rock, the back of his neck striking the edge of it. The body fell down and stared blankly at the Frost Troll as it grabbed a Footman's arms and ripped it from his body, painting the ground red with his blood.
As the beast tore through the Footmen, the rest of the company was keeping themselves warm around the large bonfire they made in the center of their camp. Even with their armor and thick fur coats, the blizzards of Kühlschrank was colder than cold. Some of the men were already getting frostbite. One even broke off his big toe. None laughed because they knew that might happen to them. Unaware of the slaughter of one of their patrol groups with the winds blocking out the sounds of their screams. The company of soldiers were unaware that they had camped too close to Frost Troll territory. Right into their hunting grounds. Not even the Grells they were hunting knew this was Frost Troll territory. They were too busy looking for some place safe from their pursuers, unknowingly entering a beast's lair. Their screams too went unheard as the den of Frost Trolls and their young mauled and feasted on their flesh.
~Line Break~
Fort Lightbringer, Kühlschrank
Arthas sighed as he read the very detailed report in his hand while massaging his temple. Half a company of Footmen lost in the western region. Lost to the cold and the beasts called Frost Trolls. The only good thing about it was that the Grells they were hunting were dead as well. Killed when they stumbled across the beasts' den. No more settlement or supply raids in that region. For now at least.
"This country is a damn nightmare." The Prince muttered as he handed the report back to the messenger.
The Conquest of Kühlschrank has claimed the lives of many of their soldiers than their war with the Dogs. He was starting to doubt if the country was worth it but he immediately banishd such thoughts from his mind. He will not let the deaths of their soldiers be in vain. They have come this far. They can't give up now.
"Arthas!"
The door to his office was kicked open and Brünnhilde barged in, Alicia's bleeding and unconscious form cradled in her arms. The Prince quickly jumped out of his seat and rushed to the two. He looked over her wounds and before casting Holy Light upon the wounded blonde. The Chieftain gently lay the girl down on the sofa before facing the worried Prince.
"Gallix's men ambushed us on our way here. They killed almost all of the escorts before wounding the girl. Your friend, Falric, stayed behind to buy us time to escape. Last I saw, they dragged him back to the forest. They might be bringing him to their camp. For what? I cannot say." Brünnhilde reported before sighing and taking a seat on the ground, leaning against the sofa.
"Damnit." Arthas cursed before kneeling down and brushing aside strands of hair on Alicia's face. The young Princess Knight slowly opened her eyes and looked at Arthas, grabbing his hand.
"P-Please... save... him."
Her eyes shut and her breathing evened out. Once more, sleep overtook the young blonde with Arthas looking down at her.
"Can you track them?" The Prince asked in a whisper. His gaze turning blank as he stared at Alicia's unconscious body.
"Perhaps. If we go now, the trail might not have gone cold yet. Let's hope the blizzard hasn't reached that part of the country yet." Brünnhilde groaned as she stood up, still feeling the pain from her wounds. Suddenly, a golden light shined down on her and all her wounds were healed. She looked to the Prince who was already retrieving his weapons from the side, Light's Wrath and Light's Vengeance. The Greatsword was secured in a large sheathe on his back while he held the Maul in his hands. A grim scowl set itself in the Prince's features as he stared back at the Chieftain.
"Then we leave at once."
~Line Break~
Grellian Camp
Stripped into nothing but his trousers and boots, Falric was thrown into the ground. Gallix's Grells forming a ring around him, cursing and spittingat the Captain as he slowly rose to his feet. Falric didn't know how long they dragged him across who knows where but he did know that this was their camp. A raiding party judging by the crates with the seal of Lordaeron painted on it. Suddenly, his sword and shield were thrown in front of him and the Captain glared at the barbarian who threw them. The barbarian had an arrogant look on his face as he motioned for the weapons. He didn't need the barbarian to talk to know what he wanted. Despite his wounds from the earlier fight, he knelt down and picked up his weapons rising to his feet and into a battle stance. He slammed his blade on the edge of his shield as a taunt to the barbarian. Falric realized the barbarians around him wielded swords and shields as well.
A random barbarian roared as he charged the Captain and swung his sword down. Falric dodged under the swing before turning to his attacker. The barbarian charged him again but he was waiting for it. As soon as the Grell got close, Falric stabbed the hairy bastard in the gut. The barbarian's mouth was agape as he looked at Falric in shock before his body slowly slid off the Captain's blade. Falric stared at the body as the barbarian let out his last gasps of air before stilling.
A second barbarian ran behind Falric and slashed him across the back. The Captain roared in pain as he fell to the ground on his side. He raised his shield to block his attacker's strike but couldn't stop the kick the barbarian sent to his torso. Falric rolled twice from the kick before swinging upwards, slicing the barbarian right in the middle. He fell to his knees with on hand clutching his wound as Falric rose to his feet. With the last of his strength, the barbarian let out a defiant roar as he tried to get in one last attack but the Captain stabbed him in the throat. Cutting the barbarian off mid-roar.
With a grunt, Falric pulled his blade free and turned around just in time to stab the barbarian that was running towards him with his sword raised in the air. The blade went through the man's forearm and Falric then stabbed the barbarian in the gut while the sword was still in the screaming man's forearm. The Captain pulled the weapon free and was slightly surprised the man was still alive. He punched him across the face with the shield before thrusting his blade into the man's throat then pulled it out. The blood spilling from the wound sprayed the Captain's body. Adding more to his already blood drenched skin.
The Captain turned around and raised his shield to block a fourth barbarian's strike but the force of the attack staggered him and he fell to the ground. The barbarian continued his assault and kicked Falric in the abdomen, throwing him on his back to the ground. He moved closer to the downed Captain and raised his scimitar to deal a killing blow but Falric acted quickly and thrusted his sword all the way to the hilt on the barbarian's abdomen. The man dropped his sword as Falric slowly rose to his feet. Falric struggled to pull the blade free before slamming his shield hard on the barbarian, pushing the man's body off his blade.
A fifth barbarian charged him and he parried the blow before bashing his shoulder on the man's chest, pushing him back a bit. Falric then turned to his left to block a sixth barbarian's strike and followed it up with a slash across the man's torso. The Captain's instincts screamed at him to duck and so he did, letting the barbarian from before miss his head and instead slash the other barbarian in the abdomen. Falric quickly elbowed the remaining barbarian in the gut before rising to his feet and swinging widely, cutting off the man's head.
With his back turned, a seventh barbarian managed to stab him in the back. Despite the pain, Falric pushed himself off the blade and turned around to face his attacker. The barbarian moved to stab him in the midsection but Falric parried the attack and used his shield to punch the man the shin, forcing the barbarian on one knee. Then the Captain sent a powerful shield bash across the barbarian's face, sending his opponent face first into the ground. He tried to rise up but Falric slammed his shield on the man's back and kept him from rising before using his sword to slit the barbarian's throat.
Breathing heavily from exhaustion and his wounds, he stood up and raised his sword slightly upwards to the right and let the barbarian run himself through to Falric's weapon. The Captain kicked the body off his blade before facing the two barbarians that walked towards him. The one on his left tried to stab him but he redirected the blow and cut off the barbarian's arm below the elbow before turning his sword on the barbarian on the right and swinging down, cutting her down the shoulder. He then ducked from the first one's swing before cutting off his head. He faced the female barbarian and the two swung their blades. He went high with the intent to sever her head while the barbarian went low to cut him across the abdomen. Her blow connected first and the Captain fell down on one knee in pain but he pushed through it to block her second attack then punching his shield on her leg to force her on one knee as well. He quickly stabbed her on the throat before shakily rose to his feet and let the body limp before kicking it away.
Two more barbarians walked up to him and the one on his right charged. Falric raised his sword to let the man impale himself but the barbarian stopped a few inches short and backed away. The one on his left moved to strike but Falric was faster and cut him across the throat, letting the man fall to the ground as he desperately clutched his severely bleeding throat. This gave the one on the right the opportunity he needed and stabbed Falric on the gut, blade buried to the hilt. The barbarian looked to Falric's face, expecting an expression of pain but instead, he got an expression that was filled with rage. Still gripping his sword tightly, Falric punched the man on the face again and again until the barbarian fell to his knees. Even so, the Captain kept punching even as the barbarian's grip on the sword still held. With one final punch that actually killed the man, the barbarian fell to the ground dead but the action resulted in the sword in Falric's abdomen getting pulled painfully until it was off.
Breathing heavily, he stared at the remaining barbarians around him.
"Come on! Who's next? Who's next?"
Before anyone could reply, a spear impaled one of the barbarians in the throat before the sound of thundering hooves boomed from behind the trees. Suddenly, Knights and Brünnhilde's Grells on horseback charged from behind the trees and trampled any of the barbarians in their path. A rider stopped behind Falric, shadowing over the Captain. Falric turned around and saw Prince Arthas looking down on him. Light's Vengeance in one hand.
The Prince jumped down from his steed, Unyielding, and placed a hand on Falric's shoulder. Arthas closed his eyes before Light shined down on Falric. The Captain looked down on his wounds and saw that they were fully healed. He moved to join the fight but Arthas' firm grip on his shoulder stopped him.
"Not this time, Falric. You need to rest. That's an order."
Falric spared the battle one more look before nodding.
"As you wish, my Lord."
The Prince smiled before whistling to the side. Brünnhilde rode her horse next to a brown one before stopping close to Arthas. Arthas grabbed the reigns of the riderless horse and handed them to Falric.
"Take this horse and follow Brünnhilde. The two of you will return to Fort Lightbringer."
"What about you, my Lord?"
Arthas didn't answer as he turned around to face the battle. The grip on Light's Vengeance tightened as he stared at Gallix's Grells.
"They will pay, my friend. By my hand." He took Light's Wrath from his back and let the tip of the Greatsword touch the ground "They will pay with blood."
The Prince roared as he charged the closest barbarian. His body glowed with the Light and those who tried to attack him only had their weapons bounce off of Arthas. With one mighty swing from his Greatsword, he bisected three barbarians before raising his Maul into the air then slammed it down hard on the ground. The shockwave knocked the ones surrounding him back. Those who weren't caught, however, foolishly ran towards the Prince with their swords raised. Arthas readied himself as the barbarians charged him. He buried Light's Wrath on the ground before gripping Light's Vengeance with both hands.
"For Lordaeron!"
~Line Break~
Brünnhilde watched in awe as the Prince showed his prowess in battle. His body had stopped glowing yet Gallix's fools still couldn't land a hit on him. Every time they tried to always ended up in their deaths. Cut in two by his Greatsword or crushed by his Warhammer. Seeing the chaos around her got her blood pumping and she turned to Olaf.
"Take the Captain back to the Fort. I think I'll go help the Prince."
"But- "
"Just do it, Hofferson."
With a resigned sigh, he led the Captain back to the road. Brünnhilde watched them go before dismounting from her horse and readied her Long Axe. A bloodthirsty grin found itself on her face as Gallix's Grells tried to attack her. The first one to get close quickly had his head split in two and the second one was punched in the gut before Brünnhilde put him in a headlock then broke his neck. She threw the corpse away and stumbled forward when one of the Grells managed to slash the Stormwolf Chieftain in the back.
Brünnhilde turned around to face her attacker before kneeing her in the groin. The woman fell down and Brünnhilde quickly executed her with one chop down the neck. Another tried to attack her but stopped him in his tracks with a simple headbutt.
The Stormwolf Chieftain laughed before shrugging off her fur coat, leaving her in her pants, boots, bracers, armbands and chest bindings. The myriad of tattoos across her muscular body mixed with the scars she earned through battle gave her a fearsome look in the eyes of the Footmen and Grells alike around her. Brünnhilde roared as she swung widely at the three Grells that charged her, cutting them across the abdomen and spilling their guts on the ground.
"Yes! Hahahaha! Come at me, Frostborn. Face the might of the Stormwolf Clan! RRAAGHH!"
~Bonus Chapter~
Port Haven, Eostia
Marion smiled at her work as the soldiers left the vicinity to escort their ward with the help of the Steelfists. The barracks where they held up a defense against the Lycans burned with the raven haired mage watching it all. She had lured the werewolves inside the barracks before sealing them in then setting off the nearby barrels of oil on fire as well as the whole building. Though some managed to escape, it was short lived as Marion sent either a Fireball or a Lightning Bolt into the hairy bastards that tried to get away. This was the most fun she had with Fire Magic. In the back of her mind, she was wondering if she had become a pyromaniac after tonight but quickly shook such thoughts away as she turned around and held out her fingers, sending a bolt of lightning into a Lycan that was running towards her. The werewolf was struck square in the chest and was pushed back into a building, leaving large cracks on the wall.
"Ha! Too easy."
Something large dropped behind her and her side was struck hard. She was suddenly sent flying and slammed into a cart, breaking it in the process. Marion groaned in pain as she gathered her bearings and saw her attacker was a large Lycan. An Alpha. It howled before dropping on all fours and ran towards her. She tried to find her staff and saw it was far from her reach.
"Shit!"
The Mage cursed before closing her eyes and bracing herself for the world of hurt the Lycan will give to her but it would never come. Someone ran past her and met the beast head on. She heard him let out a roar before hearing the sound of flesh tearing. Marion opened her eyes to see the bisected Alpha in front of her and the familiar large form of Aedan standing a few feet away. The Grey Warden sheathed his Greatsword before turning around to face his companion. His helmet was gone and the blood on his armor had dried out as well. She looked into his deep brown eyes and saw concern in them. Without so much as looking around him for anymore threats, the large man ran towards her before holding out his hand for her to take.
"Are you alright? Anything broken?"
She didn't answer but simply took his offered hand and let him help her up. Marion then gazed up at him.
"I thought you would've stayed there and kept an eye on the girl. Why are you here?"
"I know you can take care of yourself but... little Eleanor wasn't so easily reassured." Aedan answered "You did help save her after all. Besides, I couldn't leave my partner alone even if she was having fun."
"Eh." Marion shrugged "It was getting boring anyway. I've had my share of fun for tonight anway."
Without another word, she walked over to pick up her fallen staff. Deliberately, she slowly bent down rather than crouch to retrieve her weapon thus giving Aedan quite the view of her backside. It helped that her leather trousers were tight. Said Warden went red in the face bit couldn't look away until the Mage turned around and made her way back to him. She chuckled at the sight of his face before bumping him with her hip and giving him a wink.
"Saw something you like, didn't you?"
"I... uh... I-I... w-what?"
Marion laughed before settling on a genuine smile. She squeezed his arm and nodded her head down the road. Aedan managed to control his blushing to a faint pink hue before nodding back. Together, the two made their way back to the Governor's Office building. Away from the burning buildings. Fortunately, they didn't have to worry about it spreading as rain began to pour down the Port. Unfortunately, by the time they got back, they were soaked to the bone. Marion hated the rain. Aedan, not so much. He simply stated that it would help clean off the dry blood on his armor. So this resulted in Marion getting a, new set of dry clothing while she let her own clothing dry out.
Governor Wells, however, was kind enough to offer them one of the last unoccupied rooms in the building. So after a quick bath in the rain and, getting dressed in the rather simple clothing that consisted of a white shirt with sleeeves too long for her and brown trouser pants. A knock came from the door and Aedan's voice soon followed.
"Marion, are you decent?"
"Go right ahead."
Aedan opened the door and entered the room, clad in a shirt that clung to his muscular frame with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. It was actually one of the guest rooms of the Governor's Office/House. A small room with one bed, a table and a chair, a cabinet and a vanity beside the bed. Marion sat on mattress as Aedan observed the room.
"Hm. Like my room back in Castle Cousland." The Warden began before looking at Marion "Just put in a bigger bed, a chest for my weapons, an armor stand and- "
"A harem of young virgins?" Marion cut in with teasing smile before shaking her head "Oh wait. Your too chaste for such things."
"Really? I knew I never should've told you about my sex life."
"More like your lack of sex life."
"What about you? We talk about the lack of mine but what about yours?"
"I've slept with a boy back when I was sixteen then Isabela. No strings attached of course." Marion shook her head "Maker, that woman had a dagger hidden somewhere on her person every time we met. One poked me hard enough that I bled. Didn't stop the night though."
Aedan sighed and leaned on a wall with a small grin.
"Of course it's Isabela. Back in the Fifth Blight, I went to fetch my sister from The Pearl and found her entering one of the brothel's room with our companion, Zevran, and Isabela. Of course as soon as Isabela saw me, she asked if I wanted to join in." Aedan chuckled at the memory "Seeing she just offered me to sleep with my own sister, comrade and a total stranger, at the time, I bolted out of there faster than a Dalish Arrow."
Marion laughed out loud and slapped her thigh after the Warden finished. Normally, he would complain and ask her to stop, like he did when Fergus heard the story or Leliana and Morrigan or Oghre, but with Marion? He loved hearing her laugh even if he was the butt of the joke. So Aedan simply smiled and let the raven haired beauty go on with her little laugh fest. Meanwhile, Marion finished and wiped an imaginary tear from her eye before noticing Aedan simply smiling and watching her.
"See something you like, Aed? Maybe you like to see what's underneath the shirt instead?"
"Maybe I do."
Marion froze, as did Aedan. Normal routine would have him deny it and get all flustered about it while she would laugh at him before the Warden would laugh as well. But this one was new. He never said anything like that before. She was struck speechless.
Aedan was at a loss as well. He didn't know what came over him but there was always something burning inside him for months now and it finally decided to burst free. Like a man possessed, Aedan got off the wall and walked over to the bed. Marion stood up and the two were inches apart. The Warden brought a hand to her cheek and Marion leaned into the touch as the two's eyes met. Slowly, Aedan leaned in and enveloped the Mage's lips with his own. It was sweet at first. Aedan didn't really know what he was doing. Hell, this was his third kiss on the lips in his lifetime.
The first was Bella from Redcliffe after they saved the town from the Undead. Lloyd died and the tavern went to her. She thanked him for saving the town before suddenly jumping on him and kissing him with enough fervor that he thought he almost passed out. The second kiss was from Zevran. He and his sister made a bet about something he couldn't quite remember then he lost. His punishment? Have Zevran sleep with him. Thankfully, his friend granted him mercy and only kissed him but not without making it steamy of course.
Now here he was, his third kiss and it felt... good. Felt right. Then things started to get a little heated. Marion's tongue licked his teeth and Aedan opened his mouth before letting their tongues intertwine. They broke off for a bit as he hastily took off his shirt while Marion quickly unbuckled her belt and pulled down her pants before jumping on to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him and letting their lips meet once more. Aedan brought her back against the wall as he lowered his pants and drawers with one hand while still keeping a hold of her leg with the other.
When his hard cock touched her womanhood, he realized she wasn't wearing any underwear. He broke the kiss and looked at her. A silent conversation passed between the two before he entered, eliciting a loud moan from Marion but not without making him groan in pleasure from the tightness of her inner walls. Well, it was safe to say he's a virgin no more!
Somewhere in Thedas, specifically Amaranthine, Elissa stopped reading the reports in her hand and froze. While in Castle Denerim, Fergus froze and stopped listening to King Alistair as he talked about a new holiday concerning cheese while Queen Anora lovingly, with a slight hint of amusement, watched her husband rant on. Simultaneously, even on two different areas of the country, the siblings smiled and looked out the window of the respective building they were in.
"Well done, brother."
Back in Eostia, Aedan thrust deep into Marion's womb as the raven haired Mage bit into his neck with the Warden doing the same to muffle the sounds of their pleasure. Suddenly, Marion pushed off of him and, in a husky voice, said.
"Bed. Now."
The Warden nodded silently and pulled out. Marion hopped on the bed and dropped on all fours on the mattress. Aedan knelt down behind her and quickly entered her once more. Each thrust brought Aedan closer to the edge as did Marion but the two stopped themselves from finishing right then and there. Suddenly, Aedan's thrust slowed but went harder to the point Marion's arms gave out and her head fell into the pillow. Soon, her legs followed but the Warden kept his pace no matter how much he wanted to finish.
Without warning, he pulled out and turned Marion over so she could face him. Seeing her sweat ridden face and the lustful expression she gave him made the Warden quickly enter her once more but rather than move his hips, he turned them over until she was on top.
"Your turn."
"Gladly."
Marion started moving her hips slowly at first before picking up the pace. She rested her hands on Aedan's broad and slightly hairy chest to steady herself as her hips thrust forward, giving the Warden an insurmountable amount of pleasure. For how long she had ridden, she couldn't say nor could he. Their minds were boggled as their more primal urges took over. Aedan sat up and pulled Marion into a kiss once more to which the Mage happily complied. Her pace quickened and her walls tightened around him to the point he could no longer hold it in.
"Marion... Maker... Marion I'm gonna- "
"Aedan!"
Her walls tightened and her orgasm came, causing Aedan to let out a groan of pure pleasure before releasing his seed inside her. The two fell back on the bed, holding onto each other as the high of their moment mellowed down. Sweat ran down their bodies and Marion's shirt, now wet, clung to her form and letting Aedan see the two hard protrusions on her breasts. But even so, he averted his eyes to look at Marion's half-lidded ones. She smiled at him, a genuine one. Not one of mocking nor teasing but one filled with, dare he say, love. Love? Did that mean...
As if reading his mind, she leaned and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips to which she pulled back before he could return it.
"I love you." Marion began. Soft as a whisper "Halfway through our journey, I started seeing you in a different light. Not the one bards sing about in their stories when I was on the run. But the real you. The broken pillar of his siblings who would cast aside his own hurt to keep his brother and sister from falling. The Warden who went out of his way to spare the life of the man who betrayed the Kingdom and his order but even when he end those who truly were past redemption, he still feels a small amount of regret. The simple man who would do anything to help a person. To the highest form of Nobility to the lowest of the low. And the bloody bastard who took my heart."
"Marion."
"Let me finish. When the time came for us to depart I... I stayed with you because... after in the months we've spent together, you became a constant in my life. I've been on the run ever since what happened to Kirkwall and I've been alone ever since, even when I arrived in this place. I got used to it but when you came and we started going on our own adventures, I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing you again. So I stayed. When you decided to settle down here, I thought maybe we could start something new but I..." Marion stopped and laughed at herself.
"I've faced down Darkspawn, Templars, Blood Mages, Undead, Monsters and the like and I never feared any of them. But telling you how I feel scared me the most. I was afraid you would reject me and leave. I mean look at me. I'm brash, foul-mouthed, pyromaniac, and get us into more trouble than we should be. So I never said anything. The soft touches, the silent looks, the closeness. It was enough for me."
Aedan kissed her forehead before looking at her in the eye.
"When you put it like that, our situation sounds like it's something out of a romance novel." Aedan joked before smiling "I felt the same but couldn't voice it in fear of you leaving me as well... and amongst other things."
"What do you mean?"
Aedan looked her in the eyes and Marion could see that he really didn't want to tell her but he did anyway.
"They said that if you are tainted, becoming a Grey Warden will save you from turning. It's a lie. You know it don't you?"
"I knew it but I never voiced it. I can tell when someone's lying to me but I don't know what the Warden lied about."
Aedan sighed.
"Becoming a Warden doesn't cure you from the taint. It only prolongs it. Thirty years mostly. Then... we hear the Calling. The same calling the Darkspawn hear from the Archdemon. So by the end of our rope, we would go to the Deep Roads to face and honorable end rather than end up becoming a husk of who we were and kill all those we held dear." He looked at her in the eyes and he could feel the tears forming but he kept it at bay.
"I don't want to love because when my time comes, I'll only hurt them in the end. I didn't want that. They deserve better so I refused to be closer to anyone even if it means there will be no chance of a life past the Wardens for me. But you... I thought about what you told me. About doing everything in the moment because it could be your last. So I decided to let you in but... I was still afraid of what comes next. Until now."
He leaned in and let their foreheads touch. Silence fell upon the two and not even the fighting in the distance disturbed them. Marion pulled away so she could envelope him in a kiss to which he returned. After a few moments, their lips parted and the Mage was the first to speak.
"I love you. Even with all this Calling shit, I still love you. In the end, I maybe hurt if you are gone but I can accept that if it means a life with you." Marion shook her head before looking back at Aedan "Maker, I was never this sappy before. I was always full of snark, witty comments and jokes. You're making me soft, Aedan."
She leaned close to his ear and whispered "And I like it."
The Mage smirked when she felt him harden inside her.
"And I make you hard."
Aedan simply smiled lovingly and sheepishly before leaning over and enveloping her in a kiss that soon became heated. Even in this dreadful night, the two went on for another round of lovemaking. Not a care in the world.