Hi guys, so I'm starting a new story because I had a fab idea and after jotting down some ideas, thought this would be a fun story to write! And also hopefully read. I know this idea has been written before, but every author has a unique way of writing, so thought I would write this is my own way, with a little bit of flavour.
My writing is pretty graphic, so this story probably isn't suitable for anyone under the age of 13, but obviously if you think you are mature enough to handle it, then feel free! ENJOY.
The stench of death loomed in the air over the field. Bodies of slain warriors littered the dying grass and the deafening sound of clashing metal was all that could be heard. The combination of armies on the field created an array of colours. Those in red, silver, blue, green and gold pushed forward with all their strength, they knew Theron's army was weakening, and they were strengthening at the thought.
The kings who sat proudly on horseback knew the battle was almost over, and with the sound of a horn Theron and his army began to retreat into the shadows of the dark forest.
The allied forces that remained created a deafening roar that caused the ground to quake and raised their swords in the air as a sign of victory. Brothers ran to brothers and fathers to sons, dropping their weapons as they embraced, pouring out their sorrow for their lost ones, and joy at the thought of returning home to what was left.
The weary kings relaxed their tense shoulders, except one, covered in silver robes - the ruler of Lucem - the kingdom of light. King Luca knew that the war was far from over, his weary gaze glanced towards the dark forest - Hell would freeze over before Theron would give up, that he was sure of. He could only hope that Theron would be left to the mercy of the dark forest, and that it would not favour him. But King Luca knew that Theron was as evil as the dark forest, and the dark forest as evil as him, both lived to suck the light out of every living thing and they would only find favour in each other.
The king decided to throw all thoughts of Theron's return out of his mind, it would take Theron a lifetime to rebuild the forces that he had lost, which gave them enough time to prepare for his return - if he ever did return.
In the shadows of the dark forest a pair of glinting silver eyes glazed over, tears of anger leaking from his eyes. His hands balled into fists as his mouth threw every curse he could think of to the army that celebrated right in front of his eyes, the ones who celebrated a victory he should have been celebrating. Making a silent promise to reap his revenge, Theron gathered all he had left, turned his back on the light, and headed further into the dark.
A heavy fist pounded on the wooden door. The young women who sat by the fire place with a book in her hands jumped slightly, bringing her hand to her chest as she turned to face the locked door. The knock sounded again louder than before, cursing slightly the girl quickly got up and raced to the door, opening it just as the uniformed man was about to knock again.
"It is the middle of the night!" She began harshly in a loud whisper. "My family are asleep." She finished without looking properly at the man. When she took a good look at his face she grimaced slightly, bowing her head in respect when she saw the army crest he wore on the right of his tunic.
"I give you my sincerest apology sir; I was not expecting a presence here at this hour." Ungodly hour - she thought with a bitter tone.
The soldier stepped into her home without her permission or welcoming and closed the door behind him. He stood rigidly in front of the girl, his eyes trained carefully on hers, he raised his palm towards her face, she flinched slightly expecting to be disciplined, but instead he wiped a layer of ash off her face. Shocked the girl stared into his guilty eyes.
As soon as his hand was on her face, it was off again, strictly by his side. He took out a parcel from his pouch along with a letter and placed it in her outstretched hand.
"By the declaration of King Luca, every male aged fifteen to thirty must join the combined forces, in a war for peace to reign over the land. There are no exceptions. Census shows that there is a male in this house who fits the category, by the name of Demetrius - he leaves tomorrow at dawn, the wagon will await him in the village square."
The young woman stood silently in shock; the words the soldier had just said were unreal to her. The soldier - suddenly feeling unwelcomed in her home fidgeted slightly waiting for her reply and when he didn't receive one he began to head for the door. He paused slightly on his way out and turned to face to girl again, who had robotically moved to stand in front of the fire, with a sigh he left, leaving her to her thoughts.
"Do not fear for me Theodora." Came a gentle voice from the top of the anything but grand staircase.
Theodora did not turn to face her older brother. Instead she stayed rigidly still, her eyes forced close, so much that she thought they would rip any moment. She was hoping, praying, wishing that it was all just a dream, that she had fallen asleep by the fire place like she normally did, and this was all just a bad dream.
How could they expect a crippled eighteen year old to fight, what were they going to do? She thought, throw him in the front line and let him be a human shield for their better off fighters? Most likely. Theodora got to her knees and clasped her hands in front of her begging anyone, someone out there to wake her up from this horrible dream.
Those hopes were crushed when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, proving to her that she was in fact awake, and a soldier had indeed just sent her brother to his death.
The young child's terrified scream rang through the air as her horse bucked, throwing her off his back and straight onto the cold hard ground. The horse didn't stop, it continued to rear, prancing back and forth in a fright, dangerously close to trampling the girl.
"Demetrius!" She called out. "Demetrius, Demetrius help me!"
The young boy, just a little older than the girl heard his sisters cries, he pulled on his horses reigns and raced down the hill towards her. Demetrius threw himself of the galloping horse landing firmly on his feet and stood protectively in front of his little sister.
"Whoa boy, whoa," he said in a hushed voice, arms steady in front of him as he tried to calm down the spooked horse.
The horse began to calm down slightly and Demetrius getting a little braver began to take a couple steps towards the horse, he smiled when the horse was becoming calmer and turned around to offer a hand to his sister.
In that instant the horse bucked wildly and the young boy cried out in pain...
"You cannot go!" Theodora bellowed, throwing herself to her feet, it had all just sunk in and she was terrified.
Demetrius gave his little sister a gentle smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, as much as he wanted to comfort her, hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be alright he knew he couldn't, and lying to her would only prolong the hurt she was bound to feel.
"I must go Theo, if I don't who knows..."
"You cannot fight! Your sword arm does not function, you'll ...you will..."
Demetrius caught his sister with his left arm as she collapsed to the ground in tears, with his right arm hanging limp by his side he shuffled as close to her as he could and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
Not saying anything he let her cry, knowing it was best for her to get everything out, then maybe he could talk to her properly when she had some sense back in her.
Moments later Theodora's wild cries began to simmer down to hiccups and deep breaths as she tried to calm herself - get yourself together Theo - she thought as she raised her head to face Demetrius.
A worried look clouded Demetrius' face.
"Are you okay now?" He asked Theodora, gently massaging her back. She nodded gently; realising she was being incredibly selfish. Demetrius was the one being sent of to war not her, he needed support not her and all she was doing was acting like a spoilt baby.
"No are you okay?" Theodora said, placing her small hand on his cheek.
Demetrius shoulders slumped, a sign saying he was being strong for his little sister, his eyes became weary and tired and he nodded slightly, before changing his mind and whispering a quiet "no".
Theodora said nothing, not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't know what to say. She stood up offering a helping hand to her brother and pulled him to his feet, and began to lead him back upstairs to the bedroom they shared.
Theodora helped him lay on his bed; she turned to face Demetrius who had a knowing look on his face.
"Do not do anything stupid Theo." He said cautiously, before turning around to face the wall.
"I won't." Theodora said quietly, hoping that he wouldn't ask her to promise it to him, for the fact that she would try and do anything to prevent him from going to war.
"What about mother?" She asked, trying to deter the conversation path from focusing on her.
"I'll tell her in the morrow."
And with those final words Theodora left her brother to rest, laying in her own bed to put him at ease. He was worried she would do something and she knew it. He had every right to worry about her doing something, because she was in fact going to, even if it killed her.
Theodora lay silently, trying to think of a rational idea to save her brother, she had one, but it was anything but rational, in fact it was the opposite of rational, it was completely irrational, but it was the best she could think off.
As the sun began to rise Theodora got up from bed, ready and determined to put her plan to action. She took a careful look at her brother, how his short hair flicked in different directions, the flatness of his chest, and the lean muscles that bulged from the tightness of his clothes.
"Dear god." She whispered, it would be some kind of miracle if she was able to pull this trick off.
Theodora got right to work and grabbed some bandages that lay by her brother’s side, she felt slightly guilty as she knew that the bandages eased the pain that the heavy weight of Demetrius’s limp arm caused but had no other choice. She snuck down the stairs into the kitchen where she found the item she was looking for -a blade. Wrapping the blade in the bandages she made her way to her spot by the fireplace, enjoying her last moments by it before un-wrapping the blade.
Holding her golden locks in one hand, and the blade in the other, she breathed deeply, almost mourning her hair before she began to cut it. Chunk by chunk her hair was getting shorter and soon enough resembled Demetrius's. Without looking at her loss of hair she threw the locks into the fire, watching quietly as it burned to nothing.
Theodora then began to strip naked, folding all her clothes neatly in a pile beside her, before reaching for the bandages. She had no doubt that this would hide her still developing breasts as she wrapped it around her chest several times.
After she finished doing that she solemnly walked to the neatly placed uniform and hoped that it would fit her. She pulled on the brown leather bottoms and the gold tunic with her kingdoms cress on it, and finally placed her petite feet into the hard wear leather boots that had been supplied.
Even though the uniform fit she felt as if she was swimming in it and began to shuffle uncomfortably in it. Suck it up - she thought to herself.
Taking a deep breath she, as quietly as possible, threw the rucksack she had prepared over her shoulder, grabbed the conscription letter and began to make her way out of the door and down the dusty dawn lit path.
Thank you for reading! A couple comments and votes would be lovely :) !
Demetrius (Pronounced) – De – me –tree –us
Luca (pronounced) – Loo – car
Lucem – Loo – cee - um