We had waited here for Lords know how long. Crammed tightly together. My shirt and clothes were already drenched with sweat with so many fighting men and even women so close together. It felt like we had been standing for hours.
A hand bumped my own, fingers lacing with mine. I glance over at the man beside me, squeezing his hand and whispering softly, "I love you, darling Wolf." He squeezed my hand back, whispering, "I love you too, Stallion" He leaned into me. I savoured this moment of false peace.
My keen eyes saw them first. I said nothing but tapped my bow sharply on the ground. A sound everyone was waiting for. Leather creaked and arrows rattled quietly, arrows being nocked into place. I reluctantly let go of my dearly beloved's hand to do the same, the same reluctance in his movements. I know he wanted to do nothing more than hide away and hold me till this nightmare was over.
They stood their, their sickeningly crude spears and helms, a rancid sea of death and doom. Their raucous voices and chants chilled me to the bone. I licked my dry lips and set them in a determined line. My fingers idly played with the fletching of my nocked arrow.
They fired several volleys, their arrows clattered against the stone walls that shielded us. They dared advance. On command, I raised my bow and fired quickly, dropping down as soon as I fired, to grab another arrow and let the lads behind me shoot through the ramparts. If these were Men or other fairer races, perhaps I would feel remorse for this slaughter. But I do not. Kill them all I say. I know they care not for mercy.
They came next with giant ladders, throwing them up and trying to scale the wall. I came face to face with an orc, grabbing my axe off my belt and cleaving its nasty face in two. I pushed the ladder off. The general chaos of firing arrows into the hoards and returning ladders to sender continued for quite a while it seemed. I heard a scream to my right. I whipped around to see an orc pulling its cruel blade from the back of my beloved. They crawled through the culverts and tried taking us from behind. I lost it.
The one man I cared for above all else was dead. I cared not for my own fate. I choked out a sob and a wretched scream of my own. I felled that orc with one swing from my axe, seperating head from body. I pulled my shield from my back and fought hand to hand with the fiends, protecting the backs of the archers. I stood over Wolf's body like a mother bear protecting her cub, tears streaming down my face. Its for him that I fight for.
I could not have anticipated what happened next. There were a few screams of men trying to shoot something down behind me. The next thing I knew, a brillant flash like ten thousand bolts of lightening filled the area, with an explosion to match. I was just above it. I flew through the air and hit a solid wall. I fell down to the ground, dust and rubble covered my body, mingling with blood.
I came back to the world of the living, not knowing how long I was out for. I heard the sounds of battle all around me. I did a mental check, making sure nothing was broken. Surprisingly, no. I was bruised and scratched at most. I was a lucky man. I pushed myself from the rubble pile. Unable to find my own axe and shield, I picked arms up from a less fortunate soldier. An orc spotted me moving and thought me an easy kill. Ha! I showed them. When I slew one, it seemed like five more popped up.
The battle seemed like it would never end. I grew weary and feared I would be overrun, however a host of Eorlingas swept in from behind and we eventually culled the enemy.
It was over. Finally. I couldn't carry myself any longer. My knees buckled and I collapsed to the ground, a shrieking wail rent from my chest. My whole body wracked with sobs and my hysterical screams of grief. I wish I had been slain, or that the explosion had killed me. At least then I wouldn't be seperated from my beloved Wolf.
~~~
I woke up with a start. I bolted up, silently screaming, hands clawing at unseen enemies. My hair and skin were drenched in sweat and my chest heaving. I felt arms snake around me and pull me back down to bed and back to reality. I fell back, soft sobs escaping me. Tender hands ran through my hair and over my face and chest, eventually calming me down. I held Caldelas tenderly in my arms, tired now after my episode.
My dear, I still see your face in my dreams. Though I share love with others, my love for you has not waned one bit. When we reunite, I will introduce you to my merry band of lovers. I feel your arms around me in each embrace and whenever I kiss a man I love now, I feel your lips. I see your spirit and heart in each man who owns my heart and who I choose to share my life with now. I know you wouldn't want me to dwell in grief on your death, and would want me to love freely. I love each man dearly and tenderly as much as I love you, Wolf.
