War For The Kingdom (Part 1)

[dupuy 318]

The fog settled heavily around the strong walls and high turrets of Lothington castle. This was one of the strongest fortresses of the kingdom of Leaartrieya. The castle guards and the footmen were poised and ready for attack. After all, the possibilities of one were much greater than normal. Recently, a powerful, clever, and wretchedly evil ruler had swept down from the north with a massive, well-trained army. He was known as the Dark Lord, for no one outside his most trusted advisors knew his real name. Those few outsiders that found out what it was, he had tortured and eventually killed.

 

The Dark Lord had also made an alliance with a ruthless general known as the Black Knight. He was the recruiter, trainer, and leader of the Dark Lord's army. Those that had challenged him in combat, even the most expert swordsmen could not stand under his sharp, tempered blade. Now the borders of the kingdom were threatened by the enemy force.

 

The kingdom itself was ruled by King Oswald the second, a good, powerful, and kind ruler. He had his army ready in case such an attack happened. His army was headed by a fantastic soldier known as the Sir William, or the Crimson Knight. He shared the mindset of the king and believed in allowing the people the freedom they deserved.

"Keep your eyes open, lads," said the garrison commander. "The Dark Lord and his army could attack at any time, and we can't let Lothington fall!"

 

The morning continued smoothly for a little while, but that changed around 9:00 am.

 

"What was that?!" demanded the garrison commander in response to a shout ringing out over the plain. Before anyone could answer him, a roar of voices in full battle cry reverberated over the hills, and the sheer might of the Dark forces came pouring into the valley. At their head was the Black Knight on a coal black stallion.

 

"Battle stations you tin cans!" yelped the garrison commander to his entire armoured force of soldiers.

 

"Sir, we can never hold them all off! There are well over three hundred thousand of them!" replied a footman.

 

"So you think we're going to just stand here and get cut down like grass under the sickle? I certainly don't intend to die in such a manner!" snapped the garrison commander.

 

"Archers form your ranks on the walls! Fire at will!" he continued. "The rest of you assemble in the courtyard and ready your swords! Be prepared for battle in a moments notice!"

 

"God bless you my loyal soldiers; God rest your souls." He whispered gravely to himself.

 

The archers let off their deadly stream of arrows, many burying themselves deeply in some enemies' armour. Yet the archers could only do so much, and the opposing force was soon at the castle gates. The walls shuddered as an improvised battering ram smashed against them. Again and again they rumbled under the blows, making every soldier aware of the deadly force that lay behind them.

 

"Archers face the gates! Prepare to fire when and if they break down! Footman and knights ready your swords!" yelled the garrison commander.

 

The gates finally fell in with a deafening crash, and the enemy force, intent on carrying out their bloodthirsty task, rushed into the courtyard. The clang and clash of steel on steel filled the castle shortly afterwards. Several enemy soldiers, the first to enter the courtyard, were run through by the footmen's spears, but the Dark soldiers quickly gained the upper hand. The mere two or three thousand men of the king were pushed back to sure and certain death.

 

Late in the battle, the garrison commander found himself face to face with the Black Knight. Looking briefly over his shoulder, he saw the Dark Lord mounted on horseback watching the conflict. The Black Knight turned and was first to attack. He brought a powerful over cut towards the head of the garrison commander, who was hardly in time to deflect it.

 

Their swords impacted again and again until finally, the poor officer failed to parry just one thrust-----the thrust that brutally ended his life. Before long, the rest of the valiant troops were dead, and the castle was swarming with enemy soldiers.

 

 

Lothington had fallen.

Edited December 23, 2018 by dupuy

[kaisdf 3,320]

Article approved.

 

An intense, action-filled piece - it has been a while since I've had the joy of reading something of the sort. Loving the medieval theme as well, and the inverse of the classic "good always beats evil" cliché.

 

Just a note, splitting paragraphs with (ideally) a line break, or an indent makes the piece much easier to read.

 

Edits:

• "of good training" -> "well-trained"
  
• If "Dark Lord" is a name, capitalise it (same with Black Knight, Crimson Knight, etc.)
  
• "shear" is for sheep, you meant "sheer" for emphasis
  
• Formatting rework - less text wall, more easy texture
  

 

[Pyre 3,485]

Reminds me of a Helms Deep with no Gandalf. Nice.

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Mighty fine melodrama!

[Person_Random 4,991]

Excellent work; one of the best range of vocabularies I have seen this time around.

[JAGMAN2468 104]

Very nice story! 

[Lose 881]

lol black knight like like: "lol hy6 xaxaxaxaxaxaxaxa"

 

great story

[dupuy 318]

Tankers! I will soon be releasing part two of this story on the forum. Thank you so much for your kind words!

 

(Edit) I have just finished writing part 2 and have just posted it to be read by a moderator.

Edited December 22, 2018 by dupuy

[Lose 881]

Tankers! I will soon be releasing part two of this story on the forum. Thank you so much for your kind words!

 

(Edit) I have just finished writing part 2 and have just posted it to be read by a moderator.

YAYYY

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

Amazing work!