yay. so many nice reviews. okay not THAT many but thanks all the same. will try to post this chapter up soon! sorry its taking so long. writer's block.it should be banned. Also have been having a very important competition so spent half the time training. sorry!

Chapter 4

It was almost dawn. Troops on both sides were getting restless. No one could sleep as the promise of a red dawn approached.

King Jonathan stood in front of his army with his commanders running through the battle plan one last time. "Sir Raoul, is our calvary prepared?" he asked the tall and bulky knight next to him.

Raoul nodded and remarked, "I wish that we can just get it over with! I want to attack now!" The last word was shouted out, making the surrounding people stare as Gary attempted to shush him.

"Raoul, don't be rash, you know why we are waiting for daybreak!" Jonathan snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Raoul took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yes. To surprise them. I'm sorry. It's just that-" Raoul's voice trailed away.

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Meanwhile, in the fortress, King Maggur was furious. His advisors had taken a look at the massive army that Tortall had, and had immediately scurried to him like frightened mice, begging for him to peacefully surrender.

One particular advisor was very brave as to stand up to King Maggur's wrath. "Sire, could we send out a peace delegation and negotiate with Tortall? It could save many of our people's lives."

While, he admired the man's courage, King Maggur was sick of this man's words. They only showed what a coward he was at heart despite his brave facade now. "NO! We fight to the death! Guards! Take away this treacherous fool who seeks to ruin our beloved Scanra!" he cried, a maniac glint in his eyes.

The rest of the nobles could only watch as their fellow was dragged away kicking and screaming. Obviously their King was no longer in his right mind, but no one dared to interfere. The guards were the King's handpicked men who were only loyal to him. Sane or insane.

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An hour before dawn, the once busy camp was still, anticipating the red dawn.

A lone figure could be seen, striding into a from away from th royal tent to where the herald was located. Trumpets sounded, with the people in the fortress oblivious to it, a result of the many silencing wards placed around the camp. The end was near.

Within minutes, the King and his advisors had met in front of the forming army. King Jonathan started giving last minute instructions and the positions of hia commanders. "Lord Raoul, you will command have command of my calvary which forms up my left flank. Lord Imrah, you will have command of my right flank. I will lead the middle." He added grimly.

When Gareth the Younger of Naxen and Baron George Cooper started to protest, he motioned them aside and spoke furiously in a whisper. "Don't object, I want the both of you to enter the fortress as early as possible and find Alanna. Get her out of there, as well as any other Tortallan prisoners that you can find. Once that is done, signal to me and we can start the demolition of the fortress with the catapults and mage-fire without harming any of our people inside. We can only hope that Maggur evacuated his own people as well."

In a short while, the troops were assembled. They looked formiable, stretching across the horizon, like a steady multi-coloured wave ready to break upon the fortress. King Jonathan was done giving out his final instructions and mounted up directly in front of his army, surrounded by the King's Own. He turned to face his troops and addressed them," Look my men on the site where the last battle of this war is to be fought! Look at this place which the path to was painstakingly carved out and littered with the bodies of our comrades! Avenge them but stay your hand should they surrender. We are not conquerers, cold and savage. We are the defenders merciful and kind, yet weilding the hammer that is justice, defending our homeland from the Scanran invaders! Forth my people and a red dawn!"

Just as the army started to march, the mages' Gifts already kindling, a light appeared that dimmed everything around ot. It was the Sun. Dawn had come.

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Just as the sun rose, the Tortallan army's chief mage Numair gave the signal to drop the concealment charms that they had around the army.

The sentries on the fortress immediately spotted the now-revealed approaching army and sounded the alarm. Trumpets blasted from both sides as the defenders of the besieged fortress hastened to their positions.

Troops who have spent the night in restless sleep awoke and immediately assembled at the parade grounds found in their barracks. The frightened citizens seeing this, gathered all their precious belongings and huddled in their houses, King Maggur had not given them the option of fleeing. Instead, their too young sons and too old grandfathers had been wrenched from their family and enlisted in the army not 2 days ago. Three whole generations of men were about to sacrifice their lives, to die for a monarch who only cared about his wealth.

As the defenders stood in neat rows on and in front of the fortress wall, the approaching army also did the same, and a party rode out with a white flag signifying that they meant no harm and carried a message of parley from their king.

" Hail King Maggur! Greetings from King Jonathan of Tortall, wielder of the Dominion Jewel. We bring to you know a decision. Surrender, and sign a peace treaty and we shall leave. Deny us, and the wrath of Tortall will fall upon you for you and your dreaded machines have destroyed lives, torn families apart and reaped sorrow. You have an hour to give your decision." with that, the herald who was no one other that Lord Gareth the younger rode back to his king's side.

" You know you really should try out for the position of Official Court Herald becaue you really sounded very pompous right then." Jonathan muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

Lord Gareth grinned and looked innocently back at him." What's wrong with that? In case you have forgotten, I am your Prime Minister and its my obligation to represent you and make as you say "pompous' speeches."

King Jonathan could not help it as he started laughing.

The people around the King could not help but wonder why their normally serious King was laughing like a maniac right before a battle was about to begin because everyone knew that King Maggur was not going to surrender.

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A/N: SORRY SORRY SORRY for my very late update. life's been hectic etc... haha. hope you enjoyed this story. remember REVEIW!!!!!

sorry there's no alanna in this chapter. I promise that there will be more of her soon!