The Anguish of Defeat
Music
10 days of fighting and now the final battle was upon them. The sky was dark with large puffy clouds aggravated by the Tempest's Fury. Lightning streaked in errant paths towards the mountain's top, where the forces called upon staged their final stand. There a Watcher had emerged to initiate the fight, the construct succumbing to the power and might of the Primal Infused Dragon hellbent on revenge. He was known as Stratogeth. The storms heralded to the bellowing roars of a creature that did not need the titan's blessing to demonstrate or showcase his inate power.
Even with dragons on the Coalition's side, their blades and spells did little in the way of impeding this behemoth's intentions. Throughout the combat, Squire Reyes found herself seeking to save friend and ally alike, to patch herself and others up, and defend herself in the times she was at the mercy of the storm. Even with all her efforts to keep her fellow Knights alive, there was breaks beyond her control. Dame Eleysia Stormcrow had fallen more than once in battle, as did Yelena Sunshield, and eventually Sir Melek. And for a moment, it seemed that despite the adamant resolve of their forces, the enemy's tide would sweep them away.
Electrical discharges that were used in an area-wide effect quickly brought down their numbers as Stratogeth mocked their resolve and feeble attempts to slay him. One by one, she saw her friends and new family fall. And with her oath, she stood her ground against all odds to try to assure victory for the people, House Sunshield, and the Borderland Coalition. But as those electric shocks were dispensed into her and comrades alike, she felt her muscles fail her beneath the weight of plate armor and ruined terrain. Her knees buckled as her hand was paralyzed from maintaining a grip on her sword and shield. She could feel the blood coagulating beneath her armor from wounds received days before now festering into something worse. Words bubbled out of her from her chest as she swore a death to this creature some day. But whether it had left her, she wasn't so certain when her body started to shutdown.
She didn't even know when she hit the ground as that out of body experience began to take place. The streak of lightning flashed before her eyes as the monstrosity of a dragon bailed from their fight, assured that he had sentenced them to an early death. As the sounds rang in her ears from thunder on high, she watched the form of Eleysia become perpetually still beside her alongside Yelena. However, Melek was not within sight of her as her head lulled to the side and wet dirt covered her skin as she had been thoroughly beaten. Rain had fallen on her face and into her eyes, but from the electrical current still keeping her paralyzed, she had no reaction to it. She couldn't blink as her vision became more difficult to see.
Within the edge of her field of view, something dark began to take over the light. It was amorphous at first and she wondered if it was a real image or an illusion. A clawed hand obscured by shadow reached for her and blotted out the rest of the world in a realm of darkness.
To those around her, her body would convulse as if going into a sudden shock before she fell still once more. Her heartbeat now an irregular rhythm as she lay in wait for the dragons to come evacuate her and the remainders of the coalition. The emptiness of awareness was as if she had no existence at all when she was brought into the Medical area with Sir Melek and Dopey.
Living flames, and life blossoms had mended some of her minor injuries until a priestess could take a look at her. Stratogeth's electrical spell held her from examination until it was dispelled and that breastplate was removed. Blood had nearly escaped her entirely on the side as that deep impaled laceration from a glacial spike had re-opened. It stretched from the top of her waist towards her lower breast. The sight had caused panic among the menders as more healers crowded to the use of the light and forced stitches through terribly maimed skin. But all throughout this, there were pleas for Lenora's soul to stay with them. And at this point, how could one tell it was even there?
Color gradually returned to her skin as that breathing continued again after having stopped. It was the only symptom of her life still being availed to her. It was coarse as if someone had her swallow a lump of coal and tried to breathe from the residual smog of dust that covered it.
But soon the tone of the Wife, Aelin could be registered to those with better auditory reception than Lenora.
"Send word to Miss Bee, prepare the medical ward. Jonathan! Yelena was taken to the medical tent. They ain't got enough fucking medics for this!"
It was strange how murky the world was in shadow. There was no light, no hope, nothing. Had there been any semblance of thought, she might have felt pity for letting the others down. For not running when she stood her ground. Questioning the choices she made when there was no direction by their Commander to delay their assault. Burden upon burden would have been taken on by the Squire if only she could speak. If only there were words she could think to even say.
And what would Sir Jonathan say? Sir Adamar? Could they even be proud of this? In the previous battles, there were statements made not to let overconfidence rule her in a fight before it transpired. And she did heed the words of the Knight Captain and tried her best. But even at her best, she fell short. The grief that would have claimed her was also lackluster and gone.
A numb acceptance to the workings of world as her body and belongings were brought back to the Eastern Kingdoms. Even though she was cleaned of her blood and covered in a blanket, there was only the residual scent of water from the rain and sweat that had soaked her. Hands quickly stripped away those armor pieces once more to the bare minimum of cloth beneath her armor. Her shirt was a tattered mess, torn from battle as it hardly covered her stitched side. Bruising had offered a dark complexion on her face from rocks that had hit along her helm, and a bite mark that settled upon her other shoulder from a smaller proto-dragon.
How long would Miss Bee and her staff toil with the unresponsive form of the Squire? Would she be even able to return to Darkshire? What of Dopey and his various injuries? All those souvenirs she had wanted to give to everyone when she got home now lie in wait in various bags brought back with her. And when would the sun rise again for her?... Mentions:
@theborderlandcoalition @valorandvictory @honorablecombat @agilneanrose @adamarmeadowcroft @melekdyneer @sunsandwolves @eleysiastormcrow
