"Wain, your nose is bleeding…you're pushing yourself too hard…spending too much mana. Please, you need to fall back." Kristan said fighting back tears as she watched her friend struggling to stay on his feet.
"I will never leave your side…never…come 50,000 or 5 million orcs. I'm yours forever." Wain said with a defiant look in his eyes.
Arthos took a moment to look around, his gaze deliberated on each villager and hero…like gracing each with a blessing. He smiled and said, "my friends, my family…you have fought valiantly and nobly. I am proud to stand with you here on this battlefield."
"He continued, from here on out, the battle will get more intense and more dangerous. It's time to execute Plan C…it's time to evacuate the villagers unable to fight through the eastern wall. If you wish to join them, I will not stop you. Live long and live well."
Hundreds of villagers temporarily left their posts to share quick goodbyes with their children, elderly parents, and spouses as these prepared to flee through the eastern wall. They kissed their checks, foreheads, and hugged them tight. Others sobbed and whispered hushed 'I love you', 'I will always be with you.' etc. Some children begged their mom or dad to join them, most broke down and cried as they apologized and reassured them that they would always be with them…but this time they were needed here at the wall.
It was an agonizing sight…to say goodbye.
"Prepare for the fifth wave!" Arthos called out.
"Wain…I umm…I umm…this is not the way I wanted to do this, not here in front of all these people, but I want to tell you that…that I love you too." Kristan whispered the last part as she pulled him in…stepping into him almost, wrapped her fingers around his armor and kissed his lips.
The kiss was not gentle, nor was it careful.
It was a desperate confession of how she felt about him. It was everything she wanted to say but was just too proud, too guarded to say. He had won her heart, and now she never wanted to part ways with him. He tangled one hand in her hair the other he wrapped tightly around her thin waist, pulling her even closer to him. The kiss lasted for what seemed an eternity.
Arthos discretely reach out and grabbed Neva's hand without turning to face her. She blushed slightly and squeezed his hand without facing him. The two were content with this simple act of affection.
Princess Elencia smiled happily for her friends Kristan and Wain. Her eyes shifted and rested on Percy. Things were not so simple for her…she was a princess. He was an outsider. She had responsibilities and duties to her family and her people. Last night was magical and special and would live in her memory forever…but was it right? Was it okay to surrender your heart openly to another, disregarding all else?
Percy's keen instincts combined with his ninja-like observational skills deduced the princess's thoughts and worries. He held her gaze with his own…as if reassuring her that whatever path she chose, he would be with her.
THUMP
"Hector! Can you please help Wain? Anything you can do for him?" Arthos called out seeing his best friend faint and collapse on the ground.
"Relax, he just fainted because the girl he loves just kissed him. Not much I can do about that." Hector replied.
The villagers and heroes laughed. Here they were in the face of annihilation witnessing young love blossom in the face of adversity….it was perhaps a reminder of what makes us human…what connects us all despite our backgrounds and origins.
"Kids." Kay mumbled as he formed a smile.
"Here they come!" Arthos yelled.
The villagers and heroes took a deep breath…this would likely be their last stand.
Their tricks were spent and against all odds they had managed to defeat four waves of red orcs…perhaps some 10,000.
TOO-TOON, TOO-TOON, TOO-TOON!
In the distance, the blaring sound of horns could be heard.
Immediately, the fifth wave stopped their advance as they desperately looked around for the source of the blaring sound. In the east, a banner was visible accompanied by hundreds, then thousands of horses and their riders.
"IT'S THE ROYAL ARMY!" Kay shouted.
"The Royal Army? Really? They made it?" The villagers asked in confusion.
Kay rushed down from the sniper tower to inform the commanders.
"Arthos and your Majesty, it's the Royal Army lea by King Isandor himself!"
"He made it! Thank goodness." The Princess said as she wiped away tears of joy.
[…]
"My King! Villagers, survivors, fleeing the village spotted up ahead!" The scout reported frantically.
The scout added, "Prince Luceran is with them!"
"Prince Luceran? Move men! Move!" The King ordered as he dashed at full speed toward the fleeing survivors.
[…]
"Brother!"
"Luceran! Thank goodness! You are ok. I was so worried." The King said as he leapt off his horse and embraced his little brother.
"Elencia is in trouble! She is in the village fighting the orcs…you have to save her!" The prince said in a frantic spew of words.
"The Princess is alive? Men! Guard the Prince. Make sure no harm comes to him."
Turning to face his army, the King shouted.
"Knights of Camarax! Men of the Realm! Over there in that blood-soaked battlefield stands our beloved Princess Elencia fighting against hordes of beasts! Will you let her fight alone? Who here will be her shield? Her sword and spear? Who here would turn their backs and abandon Camarax?"
The army erupted in a frenzied roar…raw, fierce, and desperate. As knights, their honor had been called upon…and they would sooner abandon breath then abandon their beloved Princess.
The King shouted, "let every orc remember this day! Let them remember Camarax!"
"RIDE!"
"RIDE!"
"RIDE!"