A general born to rule

A war on hands

The Morning After the Celebration

The dawn after the grand celebration came quietly to Valorcrest. The sun rose slowly over the mountains, casting a warm golden light over the village and the surrounding forests. The people of Valorcrest were slow to rise, still feeling the effects of the previous night’s festivities. The Dwarves, in particular, were in various states of recovery, some still sleeping soundly where they had fallen, tankards still clutched in their hands.

Sam woke up in his quarters, his head pounding with the remnants of a hangover. Memories of the night before flooded back—dancing with the Dwarves, laughing with King Durin, and most vividly, his drunken confession to Alara. He turned his head to see her curled up beside him, her cat-like ears twitching slightly as she slept. A soft smile crept across his face. Despite the haze of alcohol, he knew what he had said was true. He cared deeply for Alara, and now, with the morning light filtering through the window, he felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness toward her.

He gently slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and began to dress. As he did, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. The peacefulness of the morning seemed almost too calm, as if the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

As if on cue, there was a loud knock on his door. Sam opened it to find one of Marcus’s scouts, his face grim. “Sir, we’ve spotted something. A massive army, heading straight for Valorcrest. It’s King George—there’s no doubt about it.”

Sam’s heart sank. The joy of the previous night evaporated in an instant, replaced by a cold dread. He had known this day would come—King George would not let their defiance go unpunished. But the news still hit him hard. They had built something here, something worth protecting, and now it was all under threat.

Alara stirred in the bed, her ears perking up at the sound of the conversation. When she saw the look on Sam’s face, her own expression turned to one of fear. Memories of her escape from King George’s dungeon flooded back, and the thought of being captured again sent a shiver down her spine. “Sam,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “he’s coming, isn’t he? King George… he’s going to destroy everything.”

Sam crossed the room in an instant, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking her hands in his. “I won’t let that happen,” he said firmly, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. “We’ve fought too hard to build this place. I won’t let him take you, or anyone else, away. We’ll be ready for him.”

Marcus’s Preparations

While Sam comforted Alara, Marcus was already in action. He had been up early, his military instincts kicking in as soon as the scouts had reported the approaching army. He stood at the edge of the village, overlooking the forest that surrounded Valorcrest, and began to plan.

Marcus knew they were at a disadvantage. Valorcrest was a small kingdom with a quick rise, but they were still outnumbered by the forces King George was bringing. However, Marcus had something King George’s army did not—an intimate knowledge of the terrain and the determination of a people who had something to protect.

He gathered the village’s militia, along with the Dwarves and Dark Elves who had allied with them. Together, they began to fortify the village. Marcus ordered the construction of barricades and trenches around the perimeter, using the natural terrain to their advantage. The forest was dense and filled with potential hazards, and Marcus planned to use every inch of it to slow down and weaken the enemy.

“Set traps along the forest paths,” Marcus instructed his men. “We’ll make them think they can move through the forest easily, but every step will be a risk. Pitfalls, spiked logs, hidden trenches—anything that can take out their numbers before they reach the village.”

The Dwarves, with their expertise in construction, quickly got to work on more elaborate traps. They rigged the trees with mechanisms that would send massive logs swinging down at the enemy, while others dug deep pits and covered them with leaves and branches to conceal their presence. The Dark Elves, known for their agility and precision, took to the trees, preparing ambush points where they could rain arrows down on the unsuspecting soldiers.

Marcus also ordered the creation of bottlenecks along the main road leading to Valorcrest. The road was narrow, with thick forests on either side, and Marcus planned to use that to their advantage. He had the Dwarves construct barriers that could be quickly collapsed to block the road, forcing the enemy to funnel into tight spaces where they would be easy targets for archers and artillery.

“We’ll make them fight for every inch,” Marcus muttered to himself as he surveyed the preparations. “By the time they reach the village, they’ll be so battered and demoralized that they won’t stand a chance.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Marcus couldn’t help but feel a sense of grim satisfaction. This was where his skills truly shined—turning the tide against overwhelming odds. But as he glanced back toward the village, he felt a pang of worry. This wasn’t just a battle to be won. The lives of everyone in Valorcrest depended on the success of their defense. And for Sam, for Alara, and for the people they had come to care about, failure was not an option.

Rallying the People of Valorcrest

Back in the village, Sam and Marcus gathered the people of Valorcrest to inform them of the impending threat. The atmosphere was tense, but there was no panic. These were people who had faced adversity before, and they trusted in the leadership of Sam and Marcus.

“We’ve built something incredible here,” Sam began, addressing the crowd. “But now, it’s under threat. King George is coming, and he’s bringing an army. But I want you all to know this—we are ready. We have allies, we have defenses, and most importantly, we have each other. This is our home, and we will defend it.”

Marcus stepped forward, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “We have prepared the village as best we can. The traps in the forest, the fortifications—we will make them pay dearly for every step they take toward us. But we need everyone to be ready. This will be a fight like no other. But together, we can stand against this tyrant.”

The villagers, bolstered by the confidence of their leaders, nodded in agreement. They were scared, but they were also determined. They had worked hard to build Valorcrest, and they would fight to protect it.

As the preparations continued, the people of Valorcrest rallied together, each contributing in their own way. The blacksmiths worked tirelessly to forge weapons, the healers prepared their supplies, and the hunters set out to gather additional resources. The Dwarves and Dark Elves, though from different backgrounds, worked side by side with the villagers, united in their common cause.

Alara, though still shaken by the news, refused to be left out. She joined the other women and children in preparing supplies for the soldiers, her hands steady even as her heart raced with fear. Sam found her later that day, and the two shared a quiet moment together, drawing strength from each other’s presence.

“We’ll get through this,” Sam said softly, holding her close. “And when it’s over, we’ll build an even better future. One where we don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Alara nodded, resting her head against his chest. “As long as we’re together,” she whispered, “I’ll face anything.”

King George’s March

Meanwhile, King George’s army continued its relentless march toward Valorcrest. The soldiers, clad in armor and armed with weapons, were bolstered by the lies they had been fed. They believed they were marching to crush a rebellion, to bring order to a land that had dared to defy their king. And behind them, pushing them forward, was King George himself, a cruel smile on his face as he envisioned the destruction he would bring.

The people of Valorcrest had no idea what was coming for them. But as the army grew closer, so too did the resolve of those within the village. They would not go down without a fight, and when King George’s forces finally arrived, they would find a people ready to defend their home with everything they had.