FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 27: Battle Cry)

["cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Greetings,
Well I'm back with more Two Worlds for those who still have the
courage to follow this story, which is getting a little too long, even more
my tastes and I'm the writer! :-)
no seriously I enjoy this, but after the current storyline is brought to an
end, which should be around chapter 30-32 I will be taking a small leave, I
mean I've been throwing out two to three chapters a week for almost two
months now,
Enjoy
Cilia

-Two Worlds-
Cilia

Chapter 27: Battle Cry

Buffy stood tall and looked around her. The Slayer's eyes moved to the left
and as far as she could see, the soldiers were lined and primed. A glance to
the right brought the same sight and she wasn't even standing in the middle
of the column, she smiled to herself.
It was dawn, or at least that's what both Cordelia and the High Elf had
said. Cordelia. she pondered as she brought a hand to her chin. She made a
note to talk to her scout, ranger, or whatever she was calling herself these
days, after this was all taken care of.
"We ready, Number One?" she asked Xare, who stood at her side.
"Yes, General," Xare stated. "For the tenth time," she added
quietly.
"Grimm!" Buffy called out.
"We fight for the gold, General!" the thief shouted back. "Therefore
we are always ready!" There were rumbles of laughter from the soldiers.
Buffy chuckled with her soldiers for a moment before her senses
sprung to life. "Quite down, they're about to give the signal."

Willow, however, was in the center of the column with Piratess, King Vitor,
King Einar and Theris. It was to be her duty to actually begin the assault
on Necris. Her action was to give the signal to attack.
Standing on the planes overlooking Necris, with the army she'd had a part in
creating behind her and in front of her, the enemy. This was it, no turning
back now. With a sigh, she focused inward and drew upon the bright light
that had always burned within her soul. Bending the magical energies of the
world to her will, she gathered the ancient tendrils within her being. A
brilliant light enveloped the mage. It shone from her as if ethereal. The
light grew brighter, brighter until the soldiers closest to her had to take
a step away and shield their eyes. A thought focused down into the earth, as
she grounded her magic and raised her arms into the air. She lifted from the
ground by the shear force of the energies gathered.

Cordelia was squatted on the ground, drawing patterns in the dirt, trying to
focus on the flowing lines. There was something massive waiting for them in
Necris that much she could see and without a doubt, Willow and Theris could
sense it too. At least she hoped so. The natural lines of energy were bent
around the city, repelled by something dark. It was almost as if an umbrella
of blackness had been opened over the city.
"Cordy, it's time to get ready," Stjar'a said as she laid a hand on
her shoulder.
"I know. I'm ready. I was just clearing my mind," she answered as
she rubbed out the drawings.
"Cordelia.uh, there's something I want you to know, before we-" A
great explosion of magical energy shook the air as Willow unleashed her
power upon Necris.
"In the name of the Goddess." all heard the awed voice of King Vitor.
The display of power from the Red Mage amazed Cordelia, but her ast'one
sounded serious. "You were saying?" Cordelia shouted over the noise, as the
soldiers started stirring, eager to rush towards the city.
".Spider Queen!."
"Will." Stjar'a shouted.
".And the God of War and Fire."

".Marry me?" Stjar'a shouted over the din. The explosions were shaking the
ground and Vitor's voice roared out like that of a dragon.
"Oh, Yes!" Cordelia shouted and kissed her hard.
"CHARGE!"
The lovers broke apart as the soldiers marched towards the city. Shouts, in
four different languages, rang through the ranks. Not because of their
joining, but because the battle had begun.

Vitor had to shield his eyes at the sight of the Red Mage. She stood in a
virtual maelstrom of magical energies as fire rained down on the outskirts
of Necris. Clearing the way for the army, it signaled the dwarves on the
other side of the city; the attack had begun. He spared a glance to Amy, who
watched her mentor with respect and awe, before drawing his sword. Raising
it into the air, he waited for Piratess and Einar to do the same; a slim
scimitar was raised into the air, quickly followed by an ancient, great axe.
The Drow Queen and the Dwarf King shared a glance and nodded. Amy snapped
her fingers just before the King spoke.
"In the name of the Goddess, the Spider Queen and the God of War and
Fire." Resounded across the planes, like a dragon's roar.
"CHARGE!" Vitor commanded at the top of his lungs as he pressed his sword
higher into the air.
"Let thar'be killin's o'th'fiends!" Einar shouted as he charged on
with the two hundred dwarves and a High Elf in tow.
"Nice speech," Piratess winked to the king as the soldier poured
past them. Then she disappeared in the flow.
"Good luck," Amy said as she quickly kissed his check and was off to
join her mentor that stood like a rock among the flowing armies.

Tark stood calmly as he waited for the signal. His archers were at his side
and the two hundred soldiers in rigid ranks behind him. He allowed himself a
quick feeling of pride at the discipline he had achieved with the surface
elf soldiers. Being more used to fighting in forests and small groups, he
had organised them into ground soldiers. They now fought as whole. It had
been a difficult task, but he was not known for failure. He looked with calm
distance at the light show being put on by the Red Mage. At the sound of the
charge command from King Vitor, he drew his sword and turned to his
soldiers. Nobody moved.
"Let's finish this and go home shall we?" he asked in a calm voice.
He turned back to the city and began walking. His soldiers followed him
without a sound.
"Anyone know a good fighting song?" he asked over the noise of
rushing soldiers. The battle would still be there when they arrived. He
hadn't bothered shouting they had all heard him. One started humming, then
more joined in.

Al'x watched the as the fire rained over the city. That was their signal to
march. The dwarves were anxious and battle-ready.
I just want this over and done with, to avenge my soldiers' death and go
home to the Forest. Another war, he thought sadly to himself. A travel cloak
was wrapped around him but a golden sword stood out, resting on his
shoulder.
"C'mon now lad. Giv' da'order," Gymli said as he twisted his thick
fists around the axe handle.
"Has Ziel finished praying?" Al'x asked as he looked back over the
dwarves.
"I am done," Ziel said as she made her way through the ranks to
stand beside her father.
"Took yer time," Gymli huffed. "Wher' be da avatar?" he added
eagerly.
"Ignore him. He only sees the coming battle." Ziel said as she
slipped into her ringmail. "Joyce is on her way," she said as an
afterthought.
Al'x nodded. He shrugged his shoulders and robes fell the ground to
reveal the magnificent golden dragon skin armor. A dwarf came running up to
him with a golden shield.
"Dat be some armor der'lad," Gymli said in awe, "but who be wearin'
da black'n?"
"That would be me," Joyce said as she made her way to Al'x. The
black cape flapping behind her and the gold bindings on her hands standing
out against the dark scales. "Nice show," she commented. "A little dramatic
maybe."
"Would you care to lead them out?" Al'x asked as he looked her up
and down.
"You sure?" Joyce asked with a raised eyebrow. It had not been easy
adjusting and tightening the armor, but having spent most of the night doing
so, she had succeeded. It now fit her like a second skin.
"Do it before he changes his mind," Ziel said as she cocked her
crossbow.
"Okay," Joyce said as she turned around to face the army. The cape
flapped as she spun and the armor crackled with every move. The sword sprung
to life with fire as so many times before and her eyes came to life.
"Lat vera strid!" she shouted in the dwarven tongue.
"What did she say?" Al'x asked as the dwarves banged axes on shields
and the wheels of the warwagons started turning.
"Let there be war," Ziel translated as the dwarves started marching.
"Simple. To the point." he commented when Joyce turned back to him.
"I think you've got what it takes,"
"Thank you. Question, what's the point of the big spiked wheels?"
Joyce asked and motioned to the warwagons. They were massive vehicles pushed
forward by the assigned dwarves, moving slowly towards the city with huge
wheels riddled with sharp points turning in front.
"Goblin squishers," Al'x explained. "Run one of those through a
hoard of goblins and when you're done, there won't be much left."
"I like it," Joyce exclaimed.
"Can you hear it?" Ziel asked as he ears moved. "The fighting has
begun."

TBC....