[SS] On the Battlefield

[Zunar]

A/N: Another random inspiration I got for a short story. I wanted to do something with medieval combat, and this is what I came up with. It's a little more graphic than what I usually write, so just a warning if you're a tad squeamish.


An arrow whistles past my left ear as I cut down the red-coated enemy soldier in front of me. I hear a cry of pain behind me; part of me wants to turn around and assist, but the other part knows that I can't afford to look back. Just a single moment could be the difference between life and death.

I block an on-coming strike and retaliate, sparring with the attacker for a bit before finding an opening and severing his left leg. He collapses to the ground in pain, incapacitated, blood soaking the ground beneath him.

It hurts me inside when I fight. Every ounce of blood I spill, every life I take leaves a scar on my heart. I often wonder, how much longer will these wars last? If it goes much longer, will the scars cease to affect me? Will I become nothing more than a weapon, to be replaced by any other when I am killed?

Then I hear a cry of encouragement from behind me. King Berith is not the type of king who sits idly by in his castle, giving orders and watching how the battles play out; he fights alongside us, risking his life alongside his men. Not only that, but he treats us as comrades, rather than soldiers. Compared to his, my scars are naught.

Out of the corner of my eye I see one of my compeers slain, his cries drowned out by the din of metal clashing against metal. The camaraderie between my fellow soldiers runs deep, and the pain of losing one is twice that of killing an enemy with my own hands. Though the scars cut deeper, they also fuel my hatred the opposing force. I try to keep my anger in check, enough to give me strength but not to lose control of my emotions.

I feel a sting in my right shoulder as an arrow sinks into it. I wince and stumble a bit, my vision going hazy for a moment. In that fleeting second a red soldier is upon me and I am knocked to the ground. His eyes burning with rage, he stabs at my neck, but I stop his sword with the hilt of my own long enough to roll out of harm's way. He charges and our swords lock in place, our strength pitted against each other's.

I shift my weight suddenly and dodge to the right, and he falls forward. I quickly impale him through the chest, trying to not think about adding another kill to my conscience as I yank my blood-stained sword from his corpse.

"How are you holding up, Richter?" I hear someone call from my right. King Berith sprints up beside me, his blue armor soaked with blood.

"I'm still fighting, my lord," I answer.

An enemy soldier charges, and King Berith expertly pierces his chest with his spear. "You are one of my most skilled men, Richter; I have the utmost confidence in your abilities."

Another red soldier advances; I block his attack while King Berith spears him.

"I was referring to your psyche. You have told me before how you dislike bloodshed."

I nod. "Verily. But it cannot be avoided."

"If you wish to retire, you need only ask. You have lived through many battles and gone through much hardship."

Yet another soldier appears, who we quickly dispatch. "I cannot sit idly by while my lord is fighting for the land. I shall fight until these hands can no longer wield a sword."

"My thanks, Richter. Hearing your words gives me strength."

"My lord, it is I who draws strength from yours."

The gory fray rages on, seemingly endless. An arrow suddenly pierces through a weak spot in my leggings and I stumble slightly. My opponent seizes the opportunity and knocks me to the ground. King Berith flings himself between us and severs the soldier's head in one clean blow. Before he can move, a spear suddenly buries itself in his side and he collapses to the ground.

Horrified and filled with rage, I quickly slay the owner of the spear, then turn back to King Berith. "My lord! Stay with me!"

King Berith coughs up blood. "Richter... I fear this war may never end... I had hoped I could live to see it resolved..."

"Don't talk like that! You can't die here! I won't allow it!"

"Leave me... if you stay, you will only suffer the same fate... Return home before that happens..."

"No, my lord!"

"It was an honor to fight alongside you... I'm sorry, Richter..."

His eyelids shut and his hands go limp, blood still gushing from the wound.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

King Berith, murdered?! This can't be happening. This must be a dream. Without him...

"GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

I grab my sword and charge, unable to curb my anger. I cut down enemy after enemy, numb to the pain they once caused me. They are nothing compared to losing my beloved king. If they take the life of our king, I shall take the life of theirs.

I crash through their ranks, swatting opponents down like flies. Eventually I reach the rear where the red-coated king stands.

"What have we here? An ant that wormed its way through my units?" He chuckles, mockingly.

"DIE!!!" I rush him, my eyes burning with hatred. He knocks aside my sword and shoves me to the ground easily, like an adult pushing a child. Blinded by rage, I didn't think about how strong he was. I'm such a fool.

He stomps down on my chest, pinning me to the ground. "I'm impressed you made it this far. Pity you weren't a challenge for me." He lifts his axe into the air and sunlight glints off the sharp blade. All I see is a blur as it comes down.

My lord... I failed you.

[Magnen]

Well, this is gruesome

It is well written, sword combat was executed pretty well.
Personally, the bits in all-caps seem a little silly and somewhat out of place, but other than that I think the dialogue was handled well.

[Zunar]

Thanks It's quite different from what I usually write, so I was hoping it was good enough.

The all-caps parts were there to create contrast between Richter's usual calm self and then his rage after the king was killed. He pretty much lived for the king, so when the king was killed he lost his purpose in life and that broke him. In all honesty I could've done the whole "losing his mind" thing a bit better, maybe with some mental dialogue and such, but I kinda rushed that part because I wanted to finish.