VIGIL BEFORE PRAELIUM

The stars glimmered brighter than ever before as though they knew what would transpire. Contrary to the men below who chattered, clinked their wooden mugs and laughed wholeheartedly. Gathering at the bonfire, they reminisced stories. Others deemed to be their deepest, one they never fathomed to ever tell a soul. But the night was theirs, and since none knew what held tomorrow, they sought to share.

A young boy scraped the ground, heading to the stables. On his arms were a saddle, he pondered why he had to place them at such an hour but to avoid strife, he carried on. One of the knights observed him scurry and thought it was a good time to finish his beer.

"Squire!" he exclaimed.

The boy turned, the knight twirled the mug.

"Once you're done, I need a refill."

Since when did a squire become a maid. Better yet wasn't he meant to be assigned to one specific knight? He clenched his fist, he wasn't meant to be here serving these arseholes when they clearly could do things themselves.

"Oi! Hurry up!" he bickered.

"Of- Of course sir. I'll be right there."

He placed the saddle, was it heavy! Scampered to the man where others chimed in. Exhaling, he took them all and walked to the tent behind them.

'Oh I hope they die tomorrow,' he thought opening one of the barrels and placing the mug. But if they died, how would he get home.

He wouldn't lie, it was a relief he strayed from the path within the city. The hardships he had to go through to ensure the survival of his family. At the right moments, he had to steal and as long as it was beneficial to them, the better.

Until one of the knights caught up with him, locked him in a cell and was about to transfer him to the ferocious 'prison within the sea' as so they called it. That would have happened and probably he deserved it. Only for her to turn up and persist.

"Please forgive my brother," his sister pleaded with the knight who locked him. "He was only doing what he could to sustain us. I am ready to receive punishment in his stead but please I beg you give him a chance."

"Claudia," the boy leaned to the bars, stretching his arm to her, it was too short.

The knight sighed. "I understand he must have done the best for all of you but he is a thief. He must be damned."

Claudia placed her head on the floor. "I beg, noble knight. Rodius only did this because he was forced to. Our parents died and he was left to cater for the three of us. I turned up sick and I brought more problems for him. I beg of you, if anyone is to blame, it has to be me for bringing more problems to our family. So please..."

The knight thought for some time. He broke into a smile.

"I have a suggestion for the both of you," he said. "There is a vacancy in the kingdom for your kind, Miss Claudia. Perhaps you can do your part as a maid for mi-lady. In return, I take your brother as my squire."

"What!" Rodius complained.

"Yes! Yes! Please," she bowed in admiration. She scooched to her brother and held his hands beaming. "You don't have to live as a thief any longer. I can have enough funds to care for my health and that of the others. We can live as happily as we wanted."'

The smile on her face, how could he say no to that. That was how he got here, believed it would turn out better for him, how wrong he thought. His appointed knight died a fortnight ago and now he was imposed to fend for the others. He would have been home by now but they took advantage. First they detested his knight and planned multiple ways for his demise. And now that it happened, they could have all the fun they wished with him. Did the Knight-Commander approve of this? Did he even care? That's why he didn't mind, he would find a way to get home one way or the other, but they had to die.

He took the locket on his neck and opened it. Their smiling faces, he longed for them. He grabbed and kept it close to his chest.

"BOY!"

Alarmed, he took the mugs and headed out. Handling each of them theirs.

"Imagine the look on Sargon's face if he saw you doing this," the knight rumbled as Rodius walked away. The others laughed. Yes, please die.

A knight by the bonfire clutched on his mug, the fingers tapping the brim and sweat trickling his forehead. His eyes reflected the intense furnace hoping it would have the answers. An arm laid on his shoulders, bursting him out. The knight beside him smiled as he poured bits of the beer on his trousers.

"It's your turn Argen," he told him.

"My turn for what?" he inquired.

"You know," he moved to his ear. "Your dirty little secret."

The knights laughed. But of course, the purpose of their convening was to spell out their confessions. Each knight had their fair share, now to him.

"I'm sorry everyone," he said. "I don't have anything to share."

The knights jeered, his companion crept closer.

"Come on, all of us have said something," he insisted. "Tell them how it felt sleeping with two of the queen's maids. On the same night."

The knights roared. His grip intensified.

"All of you know that story already," he said.

"Tell us another one. Come on, we know it wasn't the first time you did it. You almost got one of them pregnant didn't you?"

They laughed. Argen pulled away. Why? Why did he have to go and say such things. He wanted to forget them, let Bygones be Bygones. What benefit did it do to tell them. And now that he did... how was Madeline? Was she alright?

That night poured the most it could. He clobbered from the bar, intending a nice meal and a bath then off to bed with him. Off from the field, celebrations came first then rest. Opening the door, Madeline at his response, cross.

"Where were you?" she asked. He didn't answer.

She closed in, regretting it and covering her nose. "Why do you reek of beer?"

He refused, removing his coat. She took hold of his hand.

"Will you talk to me?" she demanded.

Argen pulled away. "What do you want woman? I'm from war and I went to celebrate with my men. Is that enough of a reason for you?"

He walked to the dining room. Madeline trailed.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"And why should I announce what I shall be doing with my comrades. Isn't your job to tailor for your children?"

"And so I shouldn't worry about my husband?"

"That is none of your business," he looked at the bowl set at the table, it was empty. "What is this? Where is my food?"

She crossed her arms. "I suppose since you headed to the bar, you must have eaten something."

He walked to her and pinned her to the wall, holding her wrists. She tried to pull away but couldn't. He was too strong.

"Let... go!"

"You tell me you worry about your husband when there's no food for me?"

"You've gone for ages. The children have waited for you and they refused to go to sleep just to see you. You come here at the wee hours and still expect anything would be ready for you when you didn't tell us. How is that any fair?"

"Don't talk back to me woman!" he barked. "Your job is to care for the family's needs, including me."

Tears pooled, she turned her head away. Argen let her go and walked upstairs. Madeline looked at him as he moved.

"How do you expect me to care for you when you don't love me anymore," she said.

Argen turned to look at her in disdain, shaking his head, he proceeded.

"I know what you did," he stopped. "Apparently your family is too much of a bother, you decide you want to make another one."

He looked at her, Madeline broke down.

"Am I that useless to you? Can I not satisfy you enough that you go ahead and sleep with other women? What happened to the vows we made to each other. Or are am I intruding your business?"

Madeline touched her dress as tears cascaded onto it. She moved to the chair and placed her hands over her eyes. He was compelled to plead forgiveness but what would he say. Madeline was already convinced of his betrayal and clarifying anything wouldn't help. He lumped to his thoughts and moved to the bedroom.

Things were never the same, the children were elated to receive him but they grew distant with one another. That guilt, it burdened his heart and he was never able to apologize. Now here he was, hearing what "his friends" had to say and laugh as though it were anything good.

If he failed, he would never forge peace and after all that, was it what he wanted?

He arose from his bench, his knights looking at him. "I'll take my leave now."

"Oh we were just joking," the one beside him said. "There's still many stories we have to hear. Sit down."

He shook his head. "It's nothing like that, I need to clear my head. Have fun everyone."

He walked to his tent. He hoped Madeline and the children were alright. About to enter when he saw the commander going over what looked like the map. How dedicated he was when his men were busy telling secrets. He shook his head, he wasted enough time on his own, sleeping would recover it.

Commander Cecil took a quill and circled a cluster of hills to the left. He put the quill down and placed his fingers below his chin. He contemplated, were a fraction of the men take that flank they would surprise Astrion's army. But they have a greater advantage, their use of the incarnate power of the shadows. Would be a probable solution to do that at night, no. They'd be stronger because of the darkness.

What of the right, he took the quill. Same problem and it may lead to a greater advantage for them. Charging in headfast was out of the question, unless they intended to die. He put the quill down. He needed to think like Astrion who was out for the queen's power stored within her diadem. But how to even think within his lines, that was impossible.

The queen entrusted him with this. He couldn't imagine if they died, the kingdom would come to ruin and all would be lost. His power was like a plague, with the smallest way through, it would infect the entirety. This was difficult to go through.

"Hmm, this day feels a bit chilly don't you think," the queen said.

They were striding across the flower maze, behind the castle. From time to time she liked smelling them, always said it reminded her of the good times. He never understood why when she resided a lavish lifestyle. Or maybe it was since her husband's death. They did tend to make strolls together.

"Oh my, Cecil," she called, squatting and checking a rose. "Look how lovely this is."

He approached. "I never understand your obsession with flowers mi-lady."

She gazed him, squinting her eyes. "You're no fun. Hasn't your daughter ever tell you anything about them."

He tightened his face. "I rarely get the time. We're both busy."

She plucked it and placed it on his hair, grinning.

"Wow, you look evangelical," she commented.

"I appreciate it," he removed the flower. "But I'm not worthy to take possession of anything you give me."

He handed the flower, she snatched it. "You're too serious. I will get another commander if you refuse to loosen up."

He chuckled, there was no way she would ever do that.

A peasant ran to them, he placed his arms above his legs, panting.

"Mi-lady, part of the flowers..." he managed.

"What about them?" she asked.

He retracted his arm and pointed behind. "I don't have any words, please follow me."

They did. Taking multiple turns they reached the destination where the other peasants had also gathered. She gazed it, the rose was turning into black. An explicit darker shade, it looked impossible but there it was. Spread across the row and she was petrified. She glanced Cecil who refined himself to high alert. He held his sword as he examined the surroundings. Nothing but a soft breeze whooshed.

"What's going on? Are we in danger?" a female peasant asked.

"There's nothing to worry about, Commander Cecil is just confirming something," the queen replied.

Nothing. He drew in.

"Today's work is over, you can leave now," she permitted.

Once everyone was gone, she focused on the flowers.

"There is something wrong mi-lady," Cecil confirmed.

"Yes," she stood up. "Astrion is closing in. I didn't think he would come in sooner but he's approaching."

She stared at the commander's eyes.

"You have to promise me that you will stop him. Astrion is powerful and if he comes to the kingdom all of us will die."

He never once saw the queen in distress to the point she would cry. She only cried once when the king died and he swore he would protect her from then on. This was a dire situation, one he couldn't allow to fail. He grabbed the queen's hands.

"I promise, I won't let this happen," he assured.

He looked at the map, no plan worked with it. Best to set it aside. What mattered was strategy, if he planned that first, the map would come into key.

The horses neighed and galloped into the canyon. The site to determine everything. They held their swords, grasped their shields and advanced. With all the men at the vantage points, the plan would work in perfectly. A completely right execution was key.

They held their breaths as they continued upwards. Yesterday seemed to never end with all the jokes they were spouting. With battle ahead of them, they wished to take it all back.

With Astrion's army coming in, Cecil grabbed the horn of the saddle, gritting his teeth and lifted his sword. He looked at his men, they were ready.

"CHARGE!"