The war begins
They were standing on the hill. Soren were watching over the field which was covered with Daein soldiers in black armors. The time had come defend Cremia, and without feeling even more pressure; whole of Tellius.
Ike didn't look so happy. He searched the aria with his eyes and sighed before he fingered on his two handed sword which was lying on his back.
- This will be a long day, he said and glanced at Soren who still didn't take his eyes off the field.
- Indeed. I'm trying to find some of the more famous Daein generals down there but I can't see any. I can only see a lot, and a lot of soldiers.
- Let me take a look.
Janaff was there beside them with his hand down his pockets and his back as bend as always. Ike looked at him and nodded slowly but he didn't say anything because he didn't have to.
Janaff could see everything from up there. He could see every single of the soldier's faces and even their eye color. Tibarn who was standing by his side had a proud look on his face and he gave Ulki a pat on the shoulder.
- Do you hear anything?
- I hear a lot your highness but I can't hear anyone giving orders or being called the general.
- I can't see the general either, if you ask me I would believe that had none, said Janaff and gave his king a serious look.
Tibarn faced Ike who didn't look so troubled about the fact that this army they had to face didn't have a leader. He didn't care; he had to fight them either way. And if they were without a leader would it just be even easier.
- I don't like this, said Soren which made Ike sigh again.
Soren knew a lot about strategy and had more war experience than Ike would get in a life time; so when Soren said something was wrong and that he didn't like what was wrong it was terrible.
- Please don't say that, asked Ike slowly.
- I'm sorry Ike, but no one is so stupid that they send out an army this big without a leader!
- He spokes truly, said Tibarn and nodded.
Janaff kept looking at the enemy, he did the best he could to find someone who could be their general but he had no luck. But soon it didn't matter. The battle was about to begin even without Daeins' army's leader.
- We shouldn't worry too much about that matter now. We need a plan don't we? Said Ike and glanced at Soren who nodded weakly and turned so he faced their own army which he had behind him. He started pointing out some of them with a snow white finger.
- Titania, Oscar, Boyd, Shinon, Ranulf, Rhys, Mia, Gatrie; I want you to follow me and Ike, we are going to face down the enemy from behind. We need to get through the forest at the north end as soon as we can. Mean while I want you Skirmir to take the lead of the rest of our army and face them from the front.
Soren turned to Tibarn and looked him in the eyes.
- Could we barrow your eyes, king of heavens.
Ike almost got surprised that Soren would address Tibarn with his title, but he forgot about it pretty soon when he saw the big and black dragon cross the sky above them. The soldiers down at the field started cry out to the rider and Ulki started to scratch his chin.
- Do we know anyone by the name Haar by any chance? I seem to recall that name from somewhere.
It didn't take long before all of them started to exchange looks. Of course they knew who Haar was. They had been in battle with him two times before. He was a great but very lazy soldier who also what everyone had heard should have left his days as a commander and started a mail business with a girl called Jill.
- Haar? Was that..?!
Ike stared at the black dragon that landed on the other side of the field. Ulki gave Ike a strange but serious look and Janaff kept an eye on Haar who was talking to one of the soldiers.
- It seems like we found their general, Sir Ike, said Ulki and glanced back at the small image on the field who was the dragon and its master.
- You can take my eyes, said Tibarn and put his hand on Janaffs shoulder. Janaff looked up on his kind before he turned to Ike and nodded. The king had given him an order, without saying it out laud; it was his job to keep Ike and his friends alive. He felt a great pride of his quest.
- Good. Ike, change of plans. Our job is now to get to Haar, we have to speak with him. I doubt that someone with his principle would battle against us, especially sense he once were on our side. Let's go, we have to hurry. Skirmir, Tibarn, please keep there attention away from us as long as you can.
- We will do our very best, they will not stand a chance, Skirmir answered and turned to his own army together with Tibarn and Ulki.
It was hard to sneak with a lot of armor, it wasn't very fast either but it wouldn't take too much time before they wear at the north end of the field. Ike was walking in the front with his big sword in one hand leaning it on his right shoulder.
It had taken time for Shinon to get rid of Rolf who even fell down on his knees hugging his teacher's leg and begged him to take him with him. Rolf couldn't understand that his both brothers could go but not him. It would be as dangerous to face the army upfront as from behind. Though when Titania had told him that someone had to stay by Mist side and keep her safe he stopped begging and hurried to the girl's side like someone had kicked him in the rear, which Shinon was deadly close to do.
- I swear to the gods that I one day will hurt that kid, badly, said Shinon and snorted.
Oscar just kept on smiling; knowing Shinon never would do such a thing to his baby brother. Boyd in the other hand got mad and lifted his axe.
- Say that again and I will..!
- Bite me axeman!
- Be quiet both of you! They are very close and we don't want them to see us then we will have one of the largest Daein army's at our necks, hissed Titania who was riding by Oscar's right side with an annoyed look on her face.
Janaff kept his eyes opened; he was staring through the trees out on the field and on the enemy. They hadn't seen them, which were a miracle; who could miss two big horses, a large man in a blue armor and two whining grow men? But then again, they were also in a battle.
They stopped and exchanged looks. It was time. Ike had to get through the soldiers who were standing in the way so he could speak to Haar. It was maybe 20 or 30 soldiers in the way. The others were busy with Skirmirs army.
Janaff took a look behind them to make sure they weren't followed before he glanced at Ike who nodded. It was time. Ranulf took his cat form and jumped out of the woods. He jumped right into one of the Daein soldiers and bite him in the throat. The blood tasted like metal in his mouth and it colored the grass dark red when the solder fell back to the ground.
Ike was out from the wood just in time to swing his sword right into the side of a man's unprotected waist. The man gave up a laud cry of pain and fell on his knees putting his hands on the deep wound, his own blood spread through his fingers.
Arrows cut the air and hit the soldiers in the neck or head, Shinon knew the deadly spots of a man and he used that knowledge. Gatrie stayed with Shinon and Rhys side. He sharpened the soldiers like pigs with his lance and knocked them to the ground.
Janaff took his bird form and cried out before he flew up in the air with one of the soldiers caught between his claws. He threw the soldier into another and tore their throats into splinter. It was blood everywhere.
Oscar ride pass most of the soldiers but while he was doing that he pushed his lance down between theirs collar bone. Boyd jumped of Titanias horse and smashed his axe into at least three soldiers at a time.
Meanwhile Soren were using his wind magic to keep the Daein soldiers away from Ike and Mia did all she could to protect him while he was doing it. Soren always were so not present when he used his magic, it was like he were losing a part of his mind in the spells.
It didn't take much time for Ike to reach Haar who had been watching the whole scene on his dragon. He looked as tired as always but this time a feeling of worry had token over his face. Ike put his sword through another soldier, now with a trail of blood over his face.
- Haar! What are you doing here?! On the enemies side!
- Well, I'm not napping that's for sure.
- Come with us, let's end this battle. We need you in the future, this was has only begun.
- I am sorry Ike, but I cannot rejoin you. This time we must fight against each other.
- I don't believe that! Haar!!
Ike turned and swung his blade once more to protect himself from the soldier that had come up behind him. Janaff came flying, still in his bird form and started keeping the Daein solders at bay so Ike could concentrate on talking rather than fighting.
- I am sorry Ike, but this is how it has to be. We are enemies now; fight me if you must but I won't join you in this war, said Haar, his voice dead serious and Ike couldn't see any smile on his face. It was true, this foolish man had made up his mind and it was nothing Ike could do to change it.
- At least tell me why before I cut you into pieces.
It went quiet between them. For some seconds maybe only a few the time had stopped. Nothing except Haar and Ike moved, it was like everything had frozen at that moment. Haars eye seemed almost filled with sorrows for a moment.
- Time has changed Ike. This time you will not get through the war without killing your friends and trusted ones. It is not Daein who is your true enemy this time.
- Then who is it?! Who do I have to fight to make things right again, cause believe me I will!
- I don't know, I haven't seen our enemy jet.
- "Our" you said you weren't on our side.
- That's correct I am not, but we still got the same enemy. I don't want to fight you Ike but I have to. Either I fight you or I have to see someone dear to me die.
- Who is going to die Haar?
Haar didn't answer. His eye faced the sky. The time had started to move again, the clocks were ticking and the fight were still on. Haar glanced back at Ike and he closed his eyes before he made the dragon widen its wings and leave the ground.
- Jill.
That was the answer Ike got from Haar before he left the battle field, leaving the hero behind, staring after him like someone had threw cold water over his head.
There was bodies everywhere around Ike's feet's. Blood were slowly dripping from his blade down on the ground but he couldn't take his eyes away from the image in the horizon that was Haar. And in his heart he felt a dark and un speak able pain.