Knight of Avalon
Chapter-16
Helga, Kay, Artoria
"So, have you made progress on finding out who she is?" Helga asked as Da Vinci stood by the Boar.
"Yep! From what I can confirm now, this is a creature called a Gorgonopsid." Da Vinci spoke.
"And that is?"
"Oh, they are a type of reptiles that lived on our planet about 265 million years ago in what in chronological terms is called the Permian period."
"265 million years…this creature is that old?"
"From your vision, I doubt that."
"Yes, the Muspellheim-like fiery landscape."
"That's the Permian Extinction, about 252 million years ago in our history. What you saw was most likely the Siberian lava traps, one of the most intense volcanic events in natural history and trigger the Permian extinction." Da Vinci spoke. "Wiped out almost all life on Earth."
Helga frowned in pity. "What a dreadful thing. No wonder it is so scared of fire."
The Gorgonopsid shivered in fright at the mention of 'fire'.
Da Vinci frowned. "But the fact that this creature is from a lostbelt…how massive must its history be?"
"What do you mean?"
"Most of the Lostbelts we've seen have had their history starting from the point they diverged from Proper Human History to the present day. Russia's was about 600 years, Scandinavia had 1000 years, China had 2200 years, India had about 5000 years while Greece had 14,000 years. I don't know when Britain's history begins, but looking at whatever texts written by this place's human historians I read from Boggart's library, Britain's history may be close to that of Greece's. So looking at this Gorgonopsid…"
"South America's history is at least 270 million years." Da Vinci spoke. "Oh god, I already feel a headache coming."
"Let's not dwell upon your future lostbelt right now. Any moment now, and Morgan's armies will have arrived on our gates." Helga spoke before the two of them heard horns sounding from the outer walls.
"It's time." Helga spoke before looking at the creature.
"I haven't really given you a name, have I?" Helga muttered.
"How about…Svin?" Helga spoke.
"Svin, doesn't that still refer to boars and pigs in Old Norse?" Da Vinci spoke.
"Well, do remember I am from the 5th century, Ms. Da Vinci. I honestly have very little understanding of the subject you are talking about, so let me just understand it in my own fashion."
"Got it."
"Is Svin fine?" Helga asked as the Gorgonopsid nodded.
"Great, I'll see you later, Svin." Helga spoke as she and Da Vinci walked towards the main gate, where the Silent Knight stood on the walls with Boggart, Kay and Artoria. Habetrot and Puck where somewhere else.
In front of the main walls, Helga looked at a massive army of Fang clan soldiers standing with a number of Incinerators, with the banners of Oxford flying high over the sea of soldiers.
"Are your runes ready?" Boggart spoke.
"Yes, Lord Boggart." Helga spoke as she checked the Algiz runes she'd set up on the walls of Sheffield as well as the Tiwaz runes across Sheffield's paths.
"So, Gawain! You decided to send another fruitless venture to drag me back under Morgan's watching eye?" Boggart bellowed out.
"Boggart, stop this madness. You are facing the military might of the rest of the Warrington Belt as well as the Imperiall Army of Camelot, not to mention us Tam Lin and the Slave Knights. You have seen what we are capable of, don't make it any difficult than you can!" Gawain spoke before noticing Artoria.
Artoria's grip on her staff tightened as the two of them stared at each other, before Gawain looked back at Boggart.
"Once again, your last chance." She spoke as a Wulf soldier came up with the Imperial banner, gesturing for Boggart to bow down in its presence.
"I will not surrender, Gawain!" Boggart roared. "Even if you bring the full might of Oxford upon my gates, I shall not bow down before that stupid flag!"
Gawain sighed as the Wulf soldier returned to the line.
"Very well…don't think your new allies can save you from your impending doom." Gawain spoke looking at Kay and Artoria.
Damn you Boggart. Barghest thought.
She knew he wasn't going to listen, but a part of her was hoping that in some miraculous manner he accepted, because Sheffield was a complicated city to besiege.
Many soldiers in her army were nervous to attack Sheffield, mostly because its strong defense paired with Oxford's vast armies made it the pride of the Fang Clan. Queen Morgan had said how Queen Mab in the Summer War had retreated from attacking Sheffield simply because it had stalled her enough for reinforcements from Oxford to engage her army.
Not to mention Queen Morgan's point about Sheffield's strategic importance which meant causing too much destruction would be detrimental to them.
"But oh well…" Barghest spoke as she thought back to who she saw standing beside Boggart.
Ector's apprentice. Well, I didn't expect her to turn out to be the one who would defeat Queen Morgan. Barghest thought. Frankly, she didn't know how exactly was the apprentice going to do that. She is pathetically weak for a fairy.
"Whatever…" Barghest spoke before remembering what the Captain told her.
"Bombard the walls and weaken its defenses. When we arrive, focus on making sure there is no escape while the Imperial Army takes hold of the city. This is as much a show of our efficiency as it is a siege."
"I can see why her majesty hates politics…" Barghest spoke, but there was no use. As soon as they were a good distance away from the fortress, she began barking out instructions.
"It is time." Boggart spoke as Helga nodded before summoning her ash staff. Helga's eyes glowed purple as she raised her staff.
"Ansuz…" She chanted as a number of Ansuz runes formed on the staff before she struck it against the ground. Immediately, the Algiz runes activated as the air rippled to form a shield over sheffield.
The Tiwaz runes then activated, as soldiers within Sheffield felt themselves grow stronger and more confident.
Laguz runes lit up before the outer walls and exploded to reshape the land around into a moat of water.
Kenaz runes lit up on cannons, designed by Da Vinci, on the wall to make its ammunition highly explosive.
Da Vinci ran back to the barracks to inspect something while Artoria stared at Helga's magic in wonder.
Anice planted her shield, frowning at Barghest's army while Kay observed them through his mystic eye.
"They're encircling the fortress, most likely to cut off our supply lines." Kay spoke.
"It is fine, your mage friend's magic will ensure our food and water supply remain intact." Boggart spoke as Helga smiled sheepishly, as Berkana runes inscribed by her on the Agricultural fields across Sheffield to feed the human population, since the fairies didn't really require much of the food.
"And Muramasa is making enough waepons for our troops." Boggart spoke. Kay had asked Muramasa if he was going to fight, but Muramasa just said that he'll fight if the enemy came to his smithy. Otherwise, he would sit back and do what he did best.
"Now they're setting up incinerator batteries." Kay spoke, observing the incinerators being set up by Earth clan fairies and human engineers with Leo soldiers guarding the batteries.
"They intend to weaken our defenses, and according to my spies, they won't be advancing upon our city until the Imperial armies arrive from Camelot."
"Does that mean we have to take care of the incinerators?" Artoria asked as Boggart nodded.
"Indeed. The longer they stay, the more damage they shall do to our walls. We need to preserve our defensive strength for the real fight with the Imperial army."
Boggart turned to Kay. "The Incinerators are our main priority for this first part."
"I concur. But Gawain knows that, too. She'll make sure the Incinerators are well-defended."
That's true. Kay thought. "In that case, I have a plan…" He spoke as Boggart raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
At that moment, a loud boom sounded as the incinerators fired off their first volley. Their shells rose high into the air, resembling fiery meteors as they came down upon Sheffield's walls.
Artoria gulped in fear as the shells descended before crashing against an invisible barrier as the Algiz rune appeared. Even a fiery beam sent from Galatine's blade bounced off the shield.
"Perfect, the shield is holding." Boggart spoke, having learnt Kay's idea as Aquila soldiers from Barghest's army flew over, nocking fiery arrows on their bows to fire upon the defenders…
…Before being cut down by strange projectiles that flew towards them.
"What?!" Barghest exclaimed from the other side. "What are they getting hit by?!"
Back on Sheffield's walls, humans operated a strange wheel-like structure with extremely small metal barrels attached to it. As it spun, those barrels fire of small pellets of iron at high speeds at the Aquila soldiers.
"Yes, I've still got it!" Da Vinci spoke as her machine guns, whose designs she'd drawn up back when she was still alive in Florence, roared to life, shooting down the Aquila archers from the air.
"Leonardo Da Vinci, genius inventor." Kay spoke with a smirk before shifting into a scowl.
"Alright, let's begin preparations."
The bombardment would continue through the day, the shells fruitlessly bouncing off the Algiz shield while squadrons of Aquila archers were shot down by Da Vinci's machine guns, using Thurisaz runes inscribed by Helga to generate miniature explosions inside the barrels that acted as a substitute for gunpowder.
It all frustrated Barghest, but her orders were clear. All she could do was continued whittling down the shield until reinforcements arrived.
They're much better prepared than I thought. Barghest thought as day gave way to night. The strange shield was powerful enough to even resist her Galatine, and it was only the outer layer covering Sheffield's old but tough walls as well. Not to mention the strange mechanism shooting down.
"This won't be as easy as I thought…" Barghest muttered.
"Commander, the gates are opening!" An aquila soldier reported as Barghest narrowed her eyes, the gates opening as wulf soldiers dragged out circular structures and placed them in front of the moat. Suddenly, wooden bridges emerged from the structures, wide enough to support a large number of soldiers and landed on the other side of the moat.
And then, Barghest spotted a large number of Centaurus cavalry thundering out in formation, holding spears in their hands and being led in the front by Boggart himself, clad in armor and wielding a massive sword.
"CHARGE!" Boggart roared as the Centaurus cavalry on his side charged towards the incinerator batteries.
"They're coming for our batteries! DIG FASTER!" Barghest snapped as human engineers, who'd been digging trenches in preparation for an attack, increased their pace.
Barghest hefted Galatine, pausing her attack on the shield for a while and headed to engage Boggart's forces.
Aquila soldiers rained down arrows upon the Centaurus cavalry, some of them raising shields to block the arrows. Some of the arrows hit, but the soldiers ignored it and continued charging, although some fell dead when the arrows hit a fatal spot.
Boggart himself ignored the arrows piercing exposed parts of his body and snapped them off by running his hands over them.
He spotted Wulf infantry pointing pikes, extending over the trenches to catch the cavalry charge. Behind them stood Barghest with a flaming Galatine in her hands.
"KEEP GOING!" Boggart roared in the explosive sounds of the incinerators firing. The cavalry kept on charging.
They're charging, but not in a full gallop. Barghest noted in confusion.
Just before they met the pikes, Boggart changed orders.
"NOW! SPLIT!" He yelled as the Centaurus cavalry suddenly broke their charging, veering off to the side as instead of pointing their spears forward in a charging formation, the Centaurus soldiers began throwing them at the infantry at high speeds, converting the charge into a skirmish.
Barghest's eyes widened as the wulf soldiers fell back under the surprise skirmish, getting impaled by the spears of thrown by Boggart's soldiers.
"SHIELDS!" She yelled as the wulf soldiers hastily put up a Shield wall, while Archers flew in the air out of the range of the cavalry and shot arrows at them.
Barghest herself deflected a bunch of spears as Boggart's own Aquila soldiers arrived to engage her archers in aerial combat.
This is fine. As long as they don't reach the incinerators… Howls of surprise reached Barghest's ears as an Incinerator suddenly exploded towards the right flank, throwing the Leo guards in disarray.
Huh? Barghest thought in confusion.
"How did they…?"
"That's one." Kay muttered as he and Helga ran away from the burning Incinerator, the two of them cloaked by a Perthro rune as they headed for the next Incinerator, avoiding the fairy soldiers rushing to douse the inferno along the way.
"Let Boggart keep them busy, we just need to a quick rampage and take out as many as we can before the Tam Lin realises things and comes to us." Kay spoke.
Boggart was just a distraction. Kay and Helga were both within the Centaurus cavalry, hidden by a cloaking rune. Just as Boggart turned the charge into a skirmish, Kay leapt with Helga in his arms off the Centaurus soldier they were sitting on and landed behind the enemy lines. After that, it was just going about and wrecking as many Incinerators as they could.
Kay knew Tam Lin Gawain would realise what was happening and come after them, which was also what he wanted.
As the day had progressed with the bombardment, Da Vinci had the human engineers start digging tunnels towards the enemy position, with Artoria and Anice heading with a bunch of wulf soldiers and human saboteurs, to join them in blowing up the Incinerators. Once they did that, they would need to make a rush for it back to Sheffield's walls.
Boggart would distract Gawain's army, and Kay would distract Gawain.
Kay formed a fire spear in his hands and chucked it right at an Incinerator shell being loaded into the incinerator, blowing it up and destroying another one. Kay did it this way for a number of incinerators as Gawain's army attempted to fruitfully chase after Boggart's skirmishers.
"Alright, let's keep…" Kay's voice trailed off as he noticed holes dug in the ground with tools lying by the side.
Tools meant for tunneling.
"Shit…" Kay cursed, as Helga looked over.
"The enemy's got the same idea. They must be doing the same to reach our walls."
"But the moat should stop them…"
"That's not the problem…" Kay looked at the open field between Sheffield's wall and Gawain's army, under which Artoria and Anice were making their way through the tunnels.
"We need to…"
"!" Kay brought up his sword to block Galatine slamming into it, sending him flying back as Helga jumped back.
"There you are, Knight of Tintagel." Tam Lin Gawain spoke as Kay got up.
"Helga, get to Artoria!" Kay spoke as Helga nodded and shapeshifted into a crow before flying off.
"You are quite tall for a human." Gawain spoke, who was about Kay's height.
Kay shrugged, smirking underneath his helmet. "And you're the first person I've met who's actually my height."
"Hmph. You are a cunning one, distracting me with Boggart and attempting to destroy my artillery, but you should know I would see through your tricks."
That was what I wanted…until I noticed your men tunneling. Kay thought with a frown.
Wulf soldiers surrounded them but Gawain growled.
"Leave him!" She snarled in an inhuman voice as the soldiers backed off.
"Woodwose was quite livid you were able to scratch him back in Salisbury. Plus, you practically ripped through fang clan fairies in Tintagel. Are you perhaps an escaped slave knight?"
"Nothing of that sort." Kay replied.
"Alright then…" Galatine's blade ignited as Kay ignited his blade as well.
"Let's see how long you last against a Tam Lin."
Artoria and Anice walked through the dark tunnels, the ground above them shaking with the sounds of the incinerators above.
Human saboteurs clad in dark green cloaks and clothing with brown masks trudged along with wulf soldiers, with other wulf soldiers digging through the ground with pickaxes forged ahead.
"According to Lady Da Vinci's calculations, we should be halfway to the incinerator batteries by now." A Wulf soldier told Anice.
Artoria walked silently, with a smile on her face.
"Wow, you look pretty confident, Artoria." Anice spoke as Artoria kept smiling, although inside she was actually annoyed.
Barghest. Artoria thought with a frown. Ever since their first meeting, Artoria always had a dislike for Barghest's condescending behaviour.
Meeting her again, Artoria could only remember her comments back at Ector's household.
She'll show Barghest once she reached the positions.
They heard explosions as Artoria realised Kay had successfully infiltrated positions and had begun blowing up the Incinerators.
"Well, looks like things are going to…" Artoria stopped as she heard muffled noises coming from a distance.
"Hm?" Anice spoke as a human saboteur stepped forward.
"Lady Anice, the voices seem to be coming from the same level as us." He spoke looking at Anice.
The wulf soldiers digging forward also stopped, recognizing the voices.
"Oh…" One of them spoke.
"Lady Anice…we're not the only ones here." The soldier spoke as Artoria's eyes widened.
"Wait, they're tunneling as well?" Artoria spoke in surprise as the soldier nodded.
"They're close." Another wulf soldier spoke as immediately they unsheathed their swords, Artoria raising her staff and Anice planting her shield. The human saboteurs brought out gauntlet daggers and slipped their hands into it, preparing to engage the enemy in tunnel combat.
"Put out the torches…" One of the human saboteurs whispered as the wulf soldiers did so.
Artoria looked at the glinting blades on the gauntlet daggers of the humans, as they stared at the wall, waiting for the enemy to come to them.
The human saboteur walked up to Artoria. "Lady Artoria, can you hide us?"
Artoria nodded and silently cast a cloaking spell over the group. The human saboteurs then crouched down, waiting for the enemy as the tunnel went dark and silent.
Artoria stood, feeling slightly uneasy at the tense silence as they noticed the ground being dug by enemy Wulf soldiers.
For some reason, Artoria felt a really bad feeling wash over her. Perhaps it was because of the killing intent she was seeing with her fae eyes, especially in the humans, whose masks and their cold, dead visors cut an almost emotionless look.
Is this…what it'll be like? Artoria thought. This was the first time she was participating in a real battle in her life, and Kay had said this would be common during her journey to stop Morgan.
Artoria took deep breaths to calm herself as the wall of earth in front of them collapsed to reveal a bunch of wulf soldiers and human engineers. A wulf soldier and an engineer stepped forward.
"What the?! There's a tunnel…!" An engineer spoke before one of the saboteurs dashed forward, grabbing the engineer with his free hand and repeatedly stabbing him in the throat with his gauntlet dagger, a second saboteur tackling a Wulf fairy and driving his gauntlet's iron blade down the fairy's throat.
"ENEMIES!" A Wulf soldier yelled as the Saboteurs rushed forward, boosted by Helga's Tiwaz runes as they latched onto Wulf soldiers and slit their throats, while the their Wulf soldiers charged forward, intending to cut down the enemy.
What followed then was a bloodbath. A wulf soldier grabbed a human saboteur trying to stab him and crushed his skull with his bare hands, before two others came up and repeatedly stabbed the wulf's sides, bringing him down as blood poured out of the fairy's mouth.
A human engineer raised his pickaxe in desperation to defend himself before he was stabbed in the temple by a saboteur. An enemy wulf soldier swung his blade to cut a friendly wulf soldier in half before another wulf split his head open with an axe.
Artoria stood stock still, looking at the scene in horror as the two sides engaged each other in the narrow tunnels, the torches of the enemy soldiers being the only source of light as Artoria watched a bunch of wulves rip into a human and tear him apart.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Artoria noticed a human engineer screamed, terrified for their lives in the chaos.. Before she could rush to help, a Saboteur threw him to the ground, covering his mouth to muffle his screams while stabbing engineer multiple times in the throat.
"Look out!" Anice spoke as she knocked back a Wulf soldier attempting to attack Artoria, before a saboteur pushed him down to his knees, stabbed him in the back of the neck, and twisted his dagger to break it.
Artoria couldn't even thank Anice as her eyes just could not leave the sheer violence taking place before her.
She thought it was going to be bad…but this…it was so much worse than she thought.
Anice was fighting to keep the enemy soldiers away from her, but even she was feeling nauseous watching humans and fairies practically rip each other apart. With the low light, confusion spread as soldiers began killing their own allies, mistaking them for enemies while those aboveground could not ear their screams as they were mauled, stabbed and dismembered by wulf soldiers and human saboteurs.
"Artoria! Artoria!" Anice exclaimed, but Artoria did not answer. She could see it all, see all the anger, bloodlust, fear, sorrow…
…She could see them all.
Anice kept calling her name, but Artoria was too lost in her thoughts to…
*SLAP*
Artoria's head twisted to the side as her cheek started stinging, Anice shaking her shoulder.
"Artoria, get yourself together!" She snapped as Artoria's terrified eyes looked at her.
"So much …" Artoria spoke.
"Lady Anice, we need to retreat back to the walls! The enemy is pushing us back!" A wulf soldier spoke.
"Artoria, let's go…" Anice spoke softly as Artoria nodded shakily. Anice then grabbed her hand and ran, Artoria stumbling behind her as the two of them ran the way they came from. Anice knocked back soldiers with her shield as the screams started getting distant. Some friendly Wulf soldiers followed them as their force began retreating.
Artoria didn't know how long they kept running, as they soon found themselves emerging out of the holes they'd dug for the tunnels just behind the barricades set up in front of the moat. Artoria noticed other soldiers coming out of the holes, carrying their wounded with them as they came out of their own encounters with the enemy soldiers.
Artoria stared on as a Leo soldier looked at the soldiers coming up.
"Collapse the tunnels!" He roared as Artoria looked up.
"WHAT?!"
"Lady Artoria, we can't afford to leave those tunnels open." The Leo soldier told her.
"B-But there's still soldiers inside!" Artoria spoke.
"We can't go back to get them, not while the enemy is advancing." The Leo tried to explain as Artoria stared at him in outrage.
"What're you waiting for?! Blow it!" The Leo roared out.
"NO!" Artoria screamed as the Saboteurs went in, triggering the firestone bombs they had set up while retreating from the tunnels as they ran back.
Soon, explosions erupted on the no man's land as the tunnels began collapsing. Those stuck inside screamed as the tunnels collapsed on them, burying dead and living alike as the ground elevation collapsed into craters on the no man's land.
Artoria stared with her mouth open at the craters in the distance as Anice
"Are you alright?!" Artoria heard Helga speak as she came up.
Artoria stared at her in silence as Helga immediately realised what had happened.
"By the All-father…" She spoke as she wrapped an arm around Artoria.
"Let's go." Anice spoke as they retreated back into the castle.
Artoria's eyes looked at the ground, her mind in utter chaos as she remembered the gruesome scene she'd witnessed in the tunnels.
Helga took her back to the barracks and sat her down on a bench, as Artoria slowly covered her mouth with her hands, unable to forget the bloodlust she'd felt in the tunnels.
"Anice, tell Da Vinci the tunnels have failed! We need a different plan!" Helga spoke as Da Vinci came up.
"The tunnels failed…we encountered enemy soldiers while digging." Anice spoke as Da Vinci's eyes widened.
"Its like Vienna all over again." She spoke before Helga. "Wait a minute…where's Kay?"
"He's…fighting Tam Lin Gawain at the moment." Helga spoke.
Artoria suddenly stood up.
"Kay's fighting Gawain?!" Artoria spoke, her earlier shock with the tunnels being replaced by a different kind of shock over what she just heard.
Helga nodded.
"That…That idiot! Take me to him!" Artoria snapped grabbing Helga by her cloak.
"Artoria, you know Kay doesn't want you near Gawain! Not after what happened in Cornwall!"
"I don't care! Kay's not fighting a Tam Lin by himself!" Artoria spoke as she started hyperventilating.
Helga immediately pressed her finger against Artoria's forehead and inscribed a Laguz rune.
Artoria's body suddenly felt heavy.
"Take me..to Kay…" Artoria spoke as her body fell back.
Helga looked at Anice. "Don't worry. Laguz only puts people to sleep. Take her to the infirmary and let her calm down. Then we'll bring her back to the frontllines." Helga spoke.
Da Vinci frowned as well. "So the stealth approach failed…" She spoke before running off.
"Da Vinci?"
"Go help Kay! I'll be coming over to help as well!" Da Vinci spoke as she ran off.
Helga nodded before she rushed off to get The Silent Knight and Puck.
Hold on, Kay. We're coming. Helga thought.
Ever since he'd first heard of the Tam Lin, Kay was curious as to how did they compare with the Round Table Knights whose names they'd taken. He'd seen Tam Lin Tristan, and he was fairly sure she was definitely weaker and less skilled than his Tristan. She didn't even use her bow like a bow, unlike Tristan who despite using Failnaught like a harp, still could use it like a bow.
But Tam Lin Gawain…she could definitely stand toe-to-toe with his Gawain. From the first blow alone, Kay felt like he was sparring with the brash, hot-headed son of Lot back when he'd just joined Artoria as a representative of Orkney. That same old monstrous strength could be felt when Galatine clashed against his sword.
Gawain pushed Kay's sword aside with one hand as her other hand turned black with red claws, swiping at Kay as he ducked and sidestepped the strike, swinging his sword at Gawain's neck.
Gawain opened her mouth and caught the sword between her fangs, surprising Kay as she tossed him up in the air and sent a wave of fire at him.
Kay formed his water shield to block the blow and was sent even higher into the air, the knight forming a fire spear in his hands and throwing it, hitting Gawain in the chestplate.
Gawain was surprised by the powerful explosion Kay's spear created, staggering her as Kay fell down with his sword aimed at her head.
Gawain shook her head as she raised Galatine to block Kay's sword with its flat side, her other hand grabbing Kay's leg throwing him to the ground.
Kay looked up to see Gawain swing Galatine at high speeds at him, forcing him to kick his legs to the right and shoot fire to propel himself away as Galatine slammed into the ground and sent a shockwave that blew Gawain's soldiers back.
Kay's shield turned into a rope of water as he sent it at Gawain, binding her with it. Gawain grunted as she attempted to break out of the water binding just as Kay rushed up and swung his sword at her. Gawain leaned back as Kay's sword cut her cheek before she broke out and jumped back.
Gawain looked at the cut on her cheek as she stared at Kay warily.
She's not as cocky anymore. Kay thought as he noticed Gawain reassessing his abilities.
Gawain then swung Galatine again, but instead of a wave of fire, Gawain's flames turned black as it turned into the snapping jaws of a dog.
"Oh!" Kay raised his water shield as the fiery dog bit into it before disappearing.
Gawain let out a whistle as Black Dogs suddenly jumped out of the darkness. Kay cut down one but the other bit at his sword arm, pulling it down.
"Blasted mutt-!" Kay grumbled before blocking Gawain's subsequent strike with his shield, although the force of the strike sent him to his knees. Gawain raised Galatine and repeatedly struck at Kay's with vicious ferocity.
The Round Table knight grit his teeth and took the blows before the chains on Gawain's left hand unwinded to wrap around his shield arm and pull it back to expose him.
Kay did not panic, as his helmet disappeared to reveal his face. Kay opened his mouth and breathed fire at Gawain, blinding her as his sword arm turned to fire and burnt the Black dog away.
His shield arm also burst into flames as they melted Gawain's chains away, freeing Kay. In her blindness, Gawain swung her arm and backhanded Kay away. The knight was sent tumbling before he found his footing and scowled at Gawain, wiping blood off the corner of his mouth.
But Kay simply smirked.
"There it is…" Kay spoke before charging at Gawain. Gawain sent more chains at him, but Kay dodged them with a roll. He then fired off flames from his legs to boost himself forward.
Gawain raised her blade, seemingly ready to meet Kay's charge before he crouched down, sliding across the ground and landing a deep gash into Gawain's leg.
Gawain grunted and fell to one knee, instinctively swinging Galatine back. But Kay was prepared and parried it away with his sword arm, before hitting Gawain right in the jaw with his shield and forcing her to bend down.
"My turn." Kay spoke as his right leg lashed out, wreathed in flames as it struck Gawain's side with explosive force, sending the Tam Lin sprawling as her armor smoked where Kay's kick hit her.
Kay did not give her a chance to breathe, as he impaled her shoulder with a fire spear to pin her to the ground.
For the finishing blow, Kay stabbed his sword towards Gawain's neck, the Tam Lin catching the sword between her palms as she struggled with Kay to keep the sword off her neck.
Ah, damn it. She's stronger than me. Kay thought in annoyance.
Barghest grit her teeth as she stared at the knight's stone-cold eyes staring at her.
How?! How was this possible?! Barghest thought. Only moments before she was about to strike him down, and now she was inches away from actually dying.
This knight was stronger than she…
No.
The knight wasn't just strong. She herself had been careless. She thought a human wouldn't be able to best her in combat.
Even now, she didn't have too much trouble holding the knight's blade away. Gawain quickly kicked the knight away from her and got up, glaring at the knight.
He'd embarrassed her in front of her own troops, and had almost taken her down. Her. One of Queen Morgan's elite knights who'd been chosen to protect Britain from any threats.
It was a blow to her pride, but now she was going to make him pay.
The knight got up calmly, shaking his head as her stared at her before taking his stance.
Barghest suddenly notice the knight's scarred eye glow purple, and suddenly, a sense of unease washed over her.
Why do I feel…threatened? Barghest thought as for a flash, she thought she saw a fox-like creature looking at her from the Knight's glowing eye.
Before Barghest could ponder on it further, suddenly yelps erupted as something hit her in the side, sending her flying off.
Kay's eye stopped glowing as he noticed Gawain suddenly get sent flying by a projectile that came in from the right.
Kay looked that direction to notice Boggart punching a hole through enemy lines, clearing the way for his soldiers and…
"Is that a bloody Da Vinci tank?" Kay spoke as a cone-shaped vehicle with metallic armor plowed through the fairies, firing off cannonballs from its cannons as it ripped through fairy soldiers and tore their bodies to shreds.
"You are something else, Sir Kay!" Boggart spoke laughing as he came up. "Never have I see Gawain be so close to defeat in my life!"
Kay stared dumbfounded as the tank's panel opened up to see Da Vinci, Helga and Puck inside.
"Come on, Kay!" Da Vinci spoke as Kay got on.
"Welcome Aboard to Il Carro Armato di Leonardo Da Vinci. Let's go." Da Vinci spoke.
"It was a tough battle, but most of the incinerators have been destroyed." Boggart spoke from outside.
"SOLDIERS! RETREAT!" He yelled as Da Vinci had her tank speed back to Sheffield castle at full speed.
"The tunnels failed?" Kay spoke.
"Yeah. We suffered casualties, and Artoria…got her first taste of battle." Da Vinci spoke as Kay sighed.
"It was going to happen sooner or later. I'll talk to her once this siege is over." Kay spoke.
"Puck, how was your part of the job?"
Puck grinned. "The poor fang clan soldiers have been running left and right because 'Commander Barghest' told them to go there."
"Great." Kay spoke as Da Vinci drove tank inside the castle.
Boggart smiled. "Excellent job. Our shield is damaged but still holds, and Gawain's army cannot enter the city. Things are calm for now…"
Kay nodded before he saw a blue light in the corner of his eye.
"Hm?" Kay spoke as he noticed a blue light appear in the night sky.
What is that? Kay thought before noticing the blue light was heading towards them. For some reason, the blue light sort of reminds him of Lancelot's Arondight.
"What the…" Kay stumbled as the blue light suddenly flew over Sheffield, shooting projectiles that exploded against Helga's shield.
"What the…?!" Da Vinci exclaimed as Kay looked up.
"That blue light just attakced our shield!" Kay spoke as Boggart's eyes widened in recognition.
"Wryneck's beard, it can't be…"
"What?"
"That's Tam Lin Lancelot!"
"Huh?!" Kay spoke. Another Tam Lin?
Boggart looked at a Leo soldier. "How is Lancelot already here. I was told she would be coming with the Imperial army!'
"Lord Boggart!" A Wulf soldier called out.
"What?!"
"The Imperial Army…it-its here!"
"WHAT?!" Boggart screamed in outrage.
"What do you mean the imperial army is here? It couldn't have left Camelot until Morgan's address and that happened today!"
Away from Sheffield, an army of Kelpie infantry marched with Nuckelavee cavalry. At their front were three people on horses.
One was Baobhan Sith, smiling in excitement towards the upcoming battle. To her left was Beryl Gut, who had a bored expression on his face. To her right was the Slave Knight Captain, who looked at the small contingent of Slave Knights that was with the army.
It wasn't the full strength, for Morgan did not want to leave her capital vulnerable to attacks, but it was more than enough to reinforce Barghest's disorganised army, which had suffered heavy casualties from Boggart's skirmishes as well as Da Vinci's later rampage in her tank.
The truth was, Morgan had already sent the army on a march for the excuse of controlling Mors populations in the north. She wanted everyone to think the Imperial army would move on the day of her address, so that no one would expect it when they show up early.
"Looks like we have less time than we thought." Kay spoke.
"This Tam Lin…she's hitting the shield harder than the Incinerators. She'll break through it soon." Helga spoke.
"We have to take care of her first." Kay spoke looking up at Lancelot attacking from above.
It looks like they were not going to have their rest.
What was assumed to be at least a week-long siege will already be seeing its conclusion in one day.
Kay closed his eyes.
So this is it. He thought.
With the imperial army's arrival, this battle will reach its conclusion in the next morning.
The fate of Sheffield shall thus be decided in this very night.
A/N: And so comes Part-1 of the Siege of Sheffield. Before we get on to the siege part, I reveal more information about our mysterious beast. As some of you correctly guessed, its from South America. But is it a deinos? No. We have a non-dinosaur resident of South America. I'll explore more once I get to my LB7 rewrite because I really, really dislike LB7's worldbuilding. Like seriously, ignoring the whole 'Plant-Animal hybrid' concept essentially breaking Darwinian principles way too hard, the jump from 310 MYA straight away to 65 MYA without much explanation of what happens in between does not help with the fact that LB7's setting is a hard contradiction of itself. I'll stop here, since this is an LB6 fanfic, but you bet I'll be ranting about LB7's setting in the first chapter of my LB7 fanfic.
Now, onto the siege. I was at first like 'Oh, let's make a bit more of a realistic siege' when I realised that that is impossible because sieges rarely last less than 2 months, something that is bad for this story's pacing. So, suspension of disbelief, I guess. But besides that, I did try to avoid the annoying tropes of 'using ladders to scale castle walls in open sight' because that is better to do when the enemy is not watching as well as 'trying to destroy one section of the wall' because that just makes things worse for the attackers than the defenders.
But anyway, this chapter was heavily influenced by the Ottoman Siege of Vienna in 1529, which I have referenced with Da Vinci here (Fun to think that the Siege of Vienna happened about a decade after Da Vinci's death). The other heavy influence I took from this chapter was actually the trench scene from The King's Man. Gods, that scene is just absolutely amazing and you can see exactly where I took inspiration from it.
With Da Vinci, I just want to say one thing. Da Vinci rocking Chaldea's advanced tech is cool, but having her bring her batshit insane Renaissance weapon designs into a battle is something that I always wanted to do. Let Da Vinci show off more of her 'Insane Renaissance Scientist' persona.
And with Kay Vs Barghest, I just want to remind everybody that no one lost that fight. Kay is certainly not stronger than Barghest, he's just more skilled. Plus, I expect Kay to be used to fighting opponents faster and stronger than him. The dude grew up with Nasuverse Artoria, he must be used to getting hit with inhuman strength all the time. But in all honesty, this Kay is a mixture between the sharp-tongued but weak Kay of medieval Arthurian stories and the short-tempered but stupidly overpowered Cei of Welsh myth so he would be more of a match for Barghest than Tristan.
Next chapter, we come to Part-2.
Hope you guys enjoyed and constructive criticsm is appreciated!
Foot Notes:
Algiz: Rune of Protection. This is self-explanatory. Also note, Norse runes have multiple meanings so I'm just listing down the one meaning that's being applied to the situations in this chapter.
Tiwaz: Rune of Courage and Bravery.
Laguz: Rune of Water and Sleep.
Kenaz: Rune of Fire.
Ansuz: Rune of Communication (I can never understand why Fate always makes it a fire rune. That's supposed to be Kenaz's role.)
Berkana: Rune of Creation.
Perthro: Rune of Secrets.
Saboteurs: Human infiltration units in armies who are trained from childhood. They use magecraft to cloak themselves and can catch fairies off-guard. Due to their upbringing, Saboteurs do not have aversion to killing in a gruesome manner.
Kelpie Infantry: After ascending as Queen, Morgan had begun conducting experiments utilizing the power of the Rain Clan fairies. From these experiments, Morgan created new breeds of fairies that had no clan affiliation. They only served her. One of these were the Kelpie infantry, named after the Kelpies that haunt the Thames River and the Eastern coast of britain.
Nuckelavee Cavalry: Another result of Morgan's experiments, fusing human and fairy into one. Nuckelavees have the body of a human attached to the back of a horse. The name 'Nuckelavee' itself has mysterious origins, although that is partially because Queen Morgan gets deeply distressed whenever she hears the name 'Nuckelavee'.
Response to Reviews:
Tomlo: I've said it before. I'll be slowly revealing why our mysterious enemies are more dangerous than the readers think.
Guest (1): I personally think that it is in-character for Lostbelt Morgan to resort to lies, considering that dealing with fairies would require even diriter politics than normal. But there is also another explanation I've saved up for Aesc's behavior.
RolePatrol: That's right. Although I'll make sure Artoria doesn't stop using her staff. And I think she's already more effective than Sith at curses. She's a British village girl, and my recent trip to the UK showed me why people think the British are on a different level when it comes to cursing.
King0fP0wers: Yeah, I realised that would happen. I just wanted to hype up Sheffield more to make sure it made a bit more sense for all three Tam Lin to attack it. Plus, I used this chapter to give Boggart his time to shine, so yeah.
Happy New Year.
Love-to-Peace: Yup, Kay and Castoria's bonding is my favourite part of this story. It always feels heartwarming when I write those scenes.
Kaleidoscope's beauty: More pain for Castoria.
Guest (2): A part of me's saying 'Poor Oberon, his plan is getting ruined'. Another part's saying 'Take that, you little piece of shit. You deserve all of this, asshole.'
Darth Kyuubi Kurama: Thank you.