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fwitolei · 6 months ago

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Warrior's Honor Chapter 2: Building the Barriers

Summary: Tensions rise as midnight approaches.

Word Count: 3k

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Iris scratched her discolored face as she rushed through Katolis castle, hurrying to her next post. Emelyn and Soren had returned from their mission a few hours ago, and co-Crownguard had informed her of orders circulating throughout the castle, warning of the impending arrival of the elves. The orders were clear: Prepare for sundown.

"I want every soldier we have present and prepared for combat by sundown, got it?"

Iris stopped, her ears alert for the source of the commanding voice.

"Even those who are off-duty?" someone else asked.

"Yes, even them. Everyone has to be posted and looking for those elves by sundown. Everyone." As the voice continued barking orders, Iris followed it around the corner to find a young woman with auburn hair conversing with an anxious-looking soldier. Emelyn.

"There you are," Iris called as the other soldier saluted Emelyn and dashed off. Emelyn turned to see Iris, then smiled softly. Her eyes were dull with fatigue, and her usually shiny armor tarnished with dust and dirt. "I take it you failed?" Iris asked, joining Emelyn as they walked down the hall together.

Emleyn sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "Unfortunately, yes. All we did was chase a stupid bug Soren brought."

Iris scoffed. "So Soren found out about your little fear of bugs, huh?" "I'm not afraid of them!" Emelyn burst out. "Just because I think they're a little creepy doesn't mean they scare me!"

"Right," Iris said, unconvinced. "And what about you? You look like you haven’t slept in a week."

"Don't get me started," Emelyn grumbled. "I've been sending soldiers in all kinds of directions. It's a mess." Emelyn crossed her arms, begrudgingly adding, "And the stupid High Mage won't let me report to King Harrow."

Iris threw her head back and barked in laughter. "I'm pretty sure lectures from the High Mage are the least of your problems. Besides, if we fend off the elves--"

"When, Iris," Emelyn interrupted, stepping aside as a group of Crownguard carrying halberds hurried by. "We need to be as optimistic as possible."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Iris dismissed. "When we fend off the elves, you'll have time to talk to Harrow tomorrow morning."

Emelyn didn't answer. As the two Crownguard entered the castle courtyard, Iris saw Millie flying overhead.

"It's almost sundown," Emelyn mumbled. "What would you think if Ezran became king? Like, by tomorrow?"

Iris scoffed. "That little kid? Please. He wouldn't last a week."

"What?" Emelyn asked, sounding almost astonished. "You really think he can't do it?"

"Sure he could, but for how long?" Iris said. "He's, what, nine? There's no way a kid like him could rule. Not without a regent, at least."

Emelyn hummed thoughtfully. "Who do you think would end up as regent? Maybe Cleric Opeli?"

"Nah, she's too by the book," Iris answered. "Lord Viren's pretty sharp, he would know what he's doing."

Emelyn sighed. The day was almost done, and there was still so much to prepare for. Moonshadow elves could be in the kingdom already, waiting for the right moment to strike. Emelyn couldn’t give up now. Not when King Harrow’s life was at stake.

Emelyn looked up and whistled loudly. Millie changed course and flew toward the two Crownguard, landing on Emelyn’s outstretched forearm. She fed the Golden Eagle a small handful of food from the pocket on her hip, speed-walking across the courtyard and leaving a confused Iris behind.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Iris called.

"I’m going to make sure the elves don’t kill Harrow!" Emelyn called back, releasing Millie back into the sky and brushing her hands off before running back into the castle. Iris watched her disappear from sight, then crossed her arms and scoffed.

"Try-hard.”

A beautiful evening light cast a warm glow over the castle courtyard, highlighting the intricate details of the stonework. Soren's gaze drifted across the scene, eyes lingering on the shadows. Shadows. They were long and inviting, reminiscent of the stolen exchanges he and Emelyn shared in their youth. But not today. Today, those very same shadows were cold and secretive. They were hiding something… evil.

He clenched his fingers around the hilt of the king's sword, adorned with beautiful Katolian engravings. The weight of the blade served as a reminder of tonight's mission— failure was not an option.

The doors to the Throne Room opened, revealing a fully-armored King Harrow flanked by four Crownguard. Soren stepped away from the window and presented the king with his sword, which Harrow accepted solemnly. As Harrow and his guards made their way to the courtyard toward his chambers, Soren felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked back to see Iris posted behind him.

"Iris!" Soren murmured. "Where's Red-- I mean, Emelyn? She was supposed to be here."

"She went to recheck defenses and do, like, 15 more perimeter checks," Iris said with an exasperated sigh. "I'm sure she'll meet us at the tower."

As Harrow and the Crownguard approached the tower, they spotted Emelyn at the base of the stairs, her helmet in hand. Her face was set with determination, yet her eyes betrayed an underlying sense of anxiety.

"Your Majesty," she said, nodding in acknowledgment. "I've bolstered defenses to four times the usual. If the elves are in the kingdom, we'll find them."

"Thank you, Emelyn," Harrow acknowledged, and the other members of the Crownguard began to move past him and ascend the stairs. Soren hung back, hesitating.

"Emelyn," Harrow started, then sighed heavily. "I'm sure we both know how this will end."

"Of course," Emelyn said promptly. "With your survival."

Harrow smiled ruefully. For just a moment, Soren saw Emelyn's face flicker with emotion. Sadness. Anger. Respect. Before Soren could figure out which, she had gathered her composure once more.

Harrow opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't seem to find the right words. After a moment, he rested his hand on her shoulder and said, "You always did have that blind determination. Don't lose it."

Soren saw the emotion in Emelyn's face again and figured it out. She was on the verge of tears.

Emelyn pressed her lips together, not daring to cry in front of the king. She breathed deeply, looked Harrow in the eye, and answered, "Yes, sir!"

Harrow smiled, patting her shoulder, then turned to the stairs leading up to his chambers. As he passed her by, Harrow glanced back, speaking softly.

"Please, Emelyn. Take care of my sons."

Soren watched as Harrow disappeared behind the staircase before glancing at Emelyn. Her grip tightened around her helmet, her eyes lowering as she grimaced.

"Is Millie still on watch?" Emelyn asked, pushing her emotions down. Soren closed the distance between them and crossed his arms.

"Yeah. I saw her flying around a few minutes ago."

Emelyn nodded. A moment of silence passed.

"...You okay?" Soren asked. Emelyn sighed. The sky turned orange as the sun set, turning the clouds pink.

"I'm fine. It's just… I'm afraid of what could happen if we fail."

"We're not going to fail," Soren said confidently, uncrossing his arms and placing a hand on her shoulder. Emelyn looked up at him. "You got it? We're gonna beat those elves, and that'll be the end of it."

Emelyn chuckled. "Yeah. And then a dragon will swoop down from the sky, and you'll somehow figure out how to slay it so you can brag to Claudia."

"Exactly," Soren replied with a grin.

Emelyn laughed. As the moon rose behind the tower, it sent a massive shadow on the castle grounds, causing a glow on the Crownguards' faces. Two Crownguard appeared on the opposite side of the courtyard, approaching their posts.

Finally, Soren said, "I better… head to my post."

"Yeah," Emelyn answered absentmindedly. Soren glanced at her for a moment longer, then turned to leave. Emelyn listened as his heavy boots receded up the stairs. Just then, She inhaled sharply and turned toward him.

"Soren?"

Soren halted upon hearing his name and looked back to see Emelyn staring at him, her hand slightly extended towards him. She had tied her auburn hair into a low bun, a change from her usual ponytail. Her side-swept bangs fluttered slightly in the breeze, highlighting the bright red streaks of dye framing her honey-brown eyes.

"...Be careful, okay?" Emelyn said.

"I should be saying that to you. They'll attack you first, after all," Soren answered. Emelyn chuckled.

"Still, though."

Soren grinned. He nodded, saluted her with two fingers, and continued up the stairs.

"Don't die, Red," he mumbled as he climbed out of Emelyn's sight.

Emelyn noticed the moon shining brightly overhead and realized it was likely nearing midnight. Her eyes were becoming heavy, her body longing for sleep. She yawned, bringing a hand to her mouth, but the sound of footsteps made her freeze. She peered out to see a shadowy figure approaching. Her hand shot to her sheathed sword, her heart pounding, her mind racing. Was it the Moonshadow elves? Why was there only one? Or were the others–

"Sir!" the male soldier on her right hissed, eyes wide. "It's Lord Viren!"

"What?!" Emelyn narrowed her eyes, focusing on the figure. Sure enough, the High Mage's gray robes illuminated in the moonlight overhead, his relic staff gleaming. Emelyn's stomach dropped at the sight of the mysterious woven basket in his hands.

"Move aside," Viren ordered, his brows furrowing in irritation at the mere sight of the auburn Crownguard. Emelyn crossed her arms.

"What's in the basket?" she asked suspiciously, looking the High Mage up and down. Viren glanced down at the basket's woven lid and pulled it further away from her.

"I have found a solution to the problem we are facing. It will ensure the safety of Harrow, unlike your sword-fighting abilities," stated Viren, with a slight inclination of his head. Emelyn felt the urge to draw her sword and prove her skills to the High Mage but decided against it. She was about to reply when a disturbing thought crossed her mind, causing her to freeze. Viren noticed her sudden change in demeanor and looked at her with a puzzled expression as she stepped back, glowering at him.

Emelyn swallowed hard, her hand moving to her sword as she said slowly, "...How do I know you're not a Moonshadow elf in disguise?"

Both Crownguard behind Emelyn snapped to attention. The female on her right gripped her weapon, ready for an attack. The other soldier had been dozing against his halberd and almost dropped it as he was startled by the mention of Moonshadow elves.

"I beg your pardon?" Viren snarled, stepping menacingly toward Emelyn. "Do you really think a Moonshadow elf would simply walk into Katolis, assuming we wouldn't have put counter-measures in place? I apologize," he continued, his lip curling as he addressed the soldiers flanking Emelyn. The male soldier to her left turned beet red. "if your squadron was not informed of the code we implemented to alleviate your concerns. Rather, that issue falls under your responsibility, further revealing your incompetence as a captain and proper Crownguard."

Emelyn swelled with anger. How could he-- how dare he-- in the darkest hours of Katolis, when the kingdom was on the brink of a royal crisis, have the time to insult her as if mentioning the weather? Emelyn shook with rage, her mind racing for something to say, but she was speechless. Despite the frustration, she took a deep breath and composed herself, reminding herself of the bigger picture. At least she knew the man standing before her was indeed Lord Viren.

"...Fine," Emelyn muttered, stepping aside as she glared at the violet jewel adorning the front of the High Mage's robes. Viren stepped past her, only curtly replying, "Thank you."

Emelyn stared hard at the other side of the courtyard, lost in thought. The soldier to her right shifted her halberd to her other hand and stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Emelyn's shoulder. "Sir? Everything alright?"

"I'm fine," Emelyn answered after a moment. "Keep your eyes peeled for the elves." The soldier gazed at Emelyn, then glanced at the other soldier to Emelyn's right. He shrugged.

The female soldier glared at him, then turned to Emelyn. "Don't think too much about it, Sir. You were right to assume. Honestly, I would've done the same."

Emelyn sighed, ruminating. The full moon's light beamed down on the three soldiers, reminding them of the attack yet to come.

If only I had thought of something to say, Emelyn thought bitterly. Gritting her teeth, she groaned and put a hand over her face, covering one eye.

Then she heard hurried footsteps. She froze, then glanced behind her at the other Crownguard. Judging by their wary eyes darting along the grounds, they had also heard it. Emelyn started to pull her sword out but stopped when she saw only a young boy running toward her. She squinted, then exclaimed when she realized who it was.

"Prince Callum?!"

Callum tried to run past without a word, but she grabbed his sleeve and quickly pulled him before her.

"Callum, what in the world are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the Banther Lodge!" Emelyn said, wrestling with him as he tried to pull away.

"Sorry, but I can't talk. I need to see the king!" Callum shouted, struggling to pull her hand away from his jacket.

"What in the world could be so important that you have to walk up to his chambers when the elves could arrive at any minute-- CALLUM!"

Callum slammed his body into Emelyn, causing her to loosen her grip on his sleeve. Callum yanked his arm away and raced up the stairs two at a time.

"IRIS! STOP HIM!" Emelyn screamed.

Halfway up the staircase, Iris heard the commotion. She looked to see Callum running past the confused Crownguard. Iris started to step out and stop him, but Callum saw it coming. He ducked under her arm, but she grabbed his scarf. The force of Callum running pulled Iris forward, and she tripped on a star. He pulled his scarf out of her hand, continuing up the stairs.

Iris swore to herself, turning around. The other Crownguards started talking amongst themselves, trying to figure out what had happened.

Emelyn listened to the commotion, groaning in frustration. She started to climb the stairs three at a time to catch up to Callum, but one of the Crownguard stopped her.

"Sir!" she said urgently.

"What, what?!"

"Look!" she whispered.

Emelyn froze. She whipped around, her eyes darting along the terrain. A whirl in the wind. A crack of a boot on bricks. Sure, she heard it, but the question was where it came from.

Emelyn pulled her sword out, her eyes darting along the perimeter to figure out where the elves could've been if they were even there. She shifted her blade to one hand and used her other to readjust her helmet.

"This is the last time I'll ever wear a helmet," Emelyn said, her voice barely above a whisper. Just then, an arrow shot out of nowhere and hit the Crownguard on Emelyn's left.

"What the…?" Emelyn started, staring as he collapsed with a hiss of pain. Desperately now, Emelyn's eyes returned to the setting, straining them to find the source of the arrow. Her hands trembled, her sword vibrating with excitement, and she tightened her grip around its hilt.

She then noticed a shimmer in the distance, moving toward her. Another appeared, then another. As they came closer, Emelyn watched as they became five translucent figures with pointy ears, horns, and weapons sprinting toward them.

"Keep it quick, Andromeda," Runaan reminded her.

"Of course," Andromeda answered, gripping her curved blade as she clashed with Emelyn's sword. She kept the lead Crownguard occupied as Runaan and Skor passed by. Callisto quickly finished the other Crownguard with a sweep of his double-bladed naginata. Ram hung back as backup.

Emelyn glanced behind her to see three wisps of figures running up the staircase. She averted her attention back to her battle just in time to see Andromeda jump back and Ram charge at her with his daggers. She raised her sword to block one blade, then grabbed at what she guessed was his other wrist. She slammed her knee into his torso, and Ram pushed her away, gripping his abdomen. Emelyn stepped back, watching her opponents like a hawk.

I can barely see them, Emelyn thought nervously. I have to finish them before they can inflict any more damage.

"Are you alright?" Andromeda asked Ram, raising her blade and glaring at Emelyn.

"Yes. She's more skilled than I thought," Ram answered. "But I have an idea."

Ram muttered something, and Andromeda nodded with a smirk. Emelyn twirled her sword, readying herself as Ram ran toward her. Ram raised his daggers to attack but jumped over Emelyn at the last second, throwing her off guard.

Emelyn spun around, expecting to see Ram before her, but he ran up the staircase after the other three elves. Emelyn stared after him momentarily, confused, then thought about Andromeda. She started to turn, realizing that the elf was already standing before her.

Emelyn froze as a flash of silver slashed by her. As her eyes came in and out of focus, she noticed the last remaining elf standing before Emelyn, the end of her blade dripping in blood. Her blood.

"Humans," Andromeda sneered. Emelyn looked down at her chest to see the giant blood stain growing on her tunic, starting on her right hip and cutting through to her left shoulder. Emelyn staggered momentarily, her hands raising to the wound before she fell to her knees, gasping for air.

Andromeda knelt in front of Emelyn and raised her hand. She gently lifted the Crownguard's pained face, then grabbed her jaw, further constricting her breath. "Pathetic," Andromeda scoffed. Emelyn yanked her face away.

"You-" Emelyn gasped, glaring at Andromeda. "You won't win."

Andromeda chuckled, then stood. She raised her foot and placed it on Emelyn's chest.

"We already have," Andromeda gibed, kicking Emelyn. Emelyn lay sprawled on the ground, writhing in pain. Andromeda turned, glanced back at Emelyn in pure hatred, then followed her comrades up to Harrow's chambers.

"No…!" Emelyn gasped, trying to climb to her feet. She looked up at the staircase as her vision blurred and watched Andromeda climb out of her sight

"Soren…" Emelyn murmured, wincing, before everything faded to black.

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