The siege
1083 Words
The queen laughed her lungs out when she received the letter from the north that they have prepared their armies and are on the march down to the White City.
“A letter from your friends, who have gone mad as well,” she talked to Franco.
“What`s it say mother?” he asked.
“The armies have been prepared and are coming for the n***d man,” she looked at Franco. “The n***d man?” she laughed. “Franco, look at me,” the queen stood up from the throne and walked to him. “I need to know whether you are still on my side.”
He remained quiet and hesitated. “Yes, mother.”
“Good,” she said quietly as she moved to her throne and sat on it. “You are dismissed then,” Franco bowed to the queen and left the hall.
“She should have gotten my letter by now,” Franco talked to the general.
“Who sent the letter?” asked the general.
“I did.”
“You know that the birds we have in the watchtower don`t fly that north.”
“What?” Franco was shocked. “What are we going to do? They are going to come with the whole army, No!” he looked at the general. “This has to end, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Gather your men then.”
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“The White City,” Aelizia stood by her father as she pointed toward the castle. They stood on a hill that overlooked the valley and the army was following behind them. “Is something worrying you father?”
“It`s quiet, too quiet,” said Teodryll.
“What do you think?”
“I am not sure that we are going to be welcomed,” he looked at Aelizia.
“No, I trust Franco that he delivered the message, the queen is not a fool.”
“People can surprise you, anyhow,” Teodryll looked at his army. “No turning back now,” he looked at Aelizia again as he started descending the hill that led to the sea of grass.
Franco stood on the walls of the White City and watched as the Everpeakans were slowly descending from the hill and started making camps in front of the city. He was furious at his mother, he was going to look like a fool in front of Aelizia, he was incapable of giving orders.
“Is it that serious my prince?” asked the general who stood beside him.
Franco just nodded and kept looking towards the army. “Come on,” he tapped the general on his armor and went inside. “Mother,” he approached the queen who was watching outside from the balcony of the throne room. “What are we to do with them?”
The queen slowly turned, her face was weary and her eyes droopy as she was crying. “Barricade the doors, and fortify the walls,” she said quietly.
“But mother…” protested Franco.
“You refuse to obey my orders?” she turned at him angrily. “I said we are under attack!” she screamed. “Barricade the doors and fortify the walls!” she screamed even more.
“Yes mother,” Franco nodded and walked away. “With me soldiers,” he went outside the hall and proceeded towards the gates of the city. Franco and the general moved past the gate and never even bothered to give the order to close it. They moved through the camps until Franco stopped in front of a big white tent.
“Franco!” Aelizia saw him at last.
“We have a problem,” he told her.
“What is it?”
“It`s my mother… she won't cooperate.”
“That`s bad, my father won`t be patient for long.”
“I have a plan, I just need you to stall your father.”
“What kind of plan?”
“First I will try to talk sense into my mother, if not we might need to make some illegal things,” said Franco. “Do we have a deal?”
“I`ll tell my father, but hurry up,” Franco and Aelizia bowed to each other respectably and walked in different directions.
Franco walked into the throne room again only to see his mother sitting on the throne weak and weary it was clear, something wasn`t right. “I trust that you have followed my orders this time?”
“No, your orders could bring the end of times for us. Mother are you blind!? They are no the enemy, the real enemy is on its way if he hasn`t arrived yet.”
“Are you insulting me child?” the queen stood up. “Guards… take him away,” Franco nodded at the general and he called upon his men as they unsheathed the swords and stood in front of the other guards who wanted to arrest Franco, but the other guards who stood by the queen's side also joined against Franco. The queen saw the coup against her and ran towards the balcony. “Prepare yourself, soldiers! Start the attack!” she ordered.
“No!” Franco pulled out his rapier and attacked the guards, the general stood by his side and also fought the other guards.
It was dark outside the moon shone on the city as always and the stars flickered. The army was restless they ran around and prepared themselves.
“Come on men!” called out one of the generals, Aelizia came out of her tent and saw the chaos around the camp, the soldiers were running left and right, unorganized and confused, flaming arrows flew from the White City and killed and burned everything that stood in their way.
“Men! Form a line!” Teodryll got up on his horse and ordered the soldiers to calm down. He quickly created the formation of the army and marched toward the gates prepared to bring it down. The arrows rained on them one by one the Everpeakans fell, Aelizia has had enough she called upon her gryphon and flew up above the walls casting fireballs killing of the archers that shot the arrows and then she flew toward the hall of the queen.
Franco and the general were still fighting the guards but the fight was soon over because the general had taught them everything they know about fighting, he knew all of their techniques. Franco ran up to his mother and pulled her inside.
“What?” Liza ran up toward the hill and saw the battle unfolding as the others followed and saw the Everpeakans attacking White City.
“What do we do?” asked Cristina.
“We help the queen of course,” said Francis.
“Come on!” Hugo started running towards the city.
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