Back to the Hold
(I counldn't find a good Back Button!)
The Warder's Hold
* Sign In *Records *Board *Chat
Author: Alallein
Subject: Victory and Loss
Date: Wed Apr 22 09:43:52 1998

Message:

Alallein's blood became ice as the torrents of Power rushed through him. It was not an unfamiliar feeling, even if unpleasant. His eyes could not see the grounds around him, but wrapped in the Void he could sense where Toreene stood, he could point her out if he could only move, her weaves were the only thing still holding him to this dream. It is said that the taint of Thakandar steel is death and from within the Void he could feel that blackess taking his body, just barely though, as if it were somebody else's body that was failing him, but those streams from Toreene were fighting back the blackness, slowly reclaiming his body for him.

His eyes opened and looked on the battle fatigued face of Toreene Sedai. Her beauty radiated life in this carnage and death that surrounded him. Strength was returning to him as if the sight of her was a beacon for his soul to find that final ounce hidden deep inside him. "Toreene, you must go...close the gate, you must close it!" the attempted shout was more a gasp. She nodded, stood, and turned to the Gate, to her target.

Al watched her as she took on that calm determination that said she was touching saidar. The heavens erupted before her as she called down the lightenings to reak havoc on the misshapen bodies. He heard a slight whistling sound just as a stand of Trollocs were neatly cut to shreds by nothing more than the air around them, she would meet her goal soon.

Al stood, shakily at first, his legs were jello and movement was nearly beyond them. Toreene's path to the Waygate was cleared, by her own doing, but her back was exposed. Only he, and the small group of Lancers that rallied to him, stood between her and the raging battle. "None shall pass this way!," Al shouted to the Lancers, "If breath still comes to one of us, none shall pass!" They nodded to him, one by one, knowing full well that it was a death wish. The five of them could not stand as the Trollocs poured down to stop the Aes Sedai, but honor and duty had called and these men would die before failing.

The Trollocs came in mass, breaking away from the battle about them, their only goal now was to stop the Aes Sedai. The Lancers fought valiantly, their hearts and souls dedicated to the fight, the Trollocs met cold death by their blades. Ten might come and ten would fall, and ten more would come and ten more would fall. Alallein worked the forms bravely, Parting the Silk met Arc of the Moon met Whilwind on the Mountain met River Undercuts the Bank. Trollocs fell by his blade while his body was lost in the Void, all the pain and fatigue pushed just outside and away. The men fought on, nearly sixty Trollocs lay dead at their feet, but fatigue was taking them. One by one the Lancers fell, they fought bravely with much honor, but the numbers overcame them and they fell. Alallein continued on in the Void, he continued his fight, and the Trollocs kept falling, split by his blade. He was death.

He was unaware that more Lancers had rallied to the Gateway. Lost in the Void, he did not hear the Black Winds howl as Toreene closed the Gate, he did not see the hundred Lancers taking up his fight, he did not notice the fifty or so beasts they laid at his feet. He was covered in blood and gore, there was no telling if it was his or the Trollocs. The Lancers were nearly afraid to approach him, his cold stare and deadly blade kept them at bay, but they would not get too far either. The Trollocs seemed to avoid him, attacking a band of twenty instead of the one Gaidin to be, Alallein had become the Shadow's Bane.

He felt Toreene approaching and instinctely glanced her way. With a crash of realization he saw that the Waygate was closed and the wavering in her step, fatigue sat heavily upon her brow. Al made a clicking sound with his tongue hoping that Caba'din was not too far.

Instanly, Al heard the neighing of his stallion, very close. He shouted, "Victory! Honor to the Black Hawk! We ride! Mount up, we ride!" He turned to see his black warhorse approaching at a run followed close by Toreene's snowy white mare. His horse slowed, just enough for Al to grap the saddle and leap to his seat. He drove Caba'din on, towards Toreene Sedai, who seemed nearly lost in her fatigue, and with a strong right arm Al leaned over and scooped the Aes Sedai up at a gallop.

Al turned to see the remnants of the cavalry mounted and following his lead. The shouts rose up, "Ride on, to Fal Dara!" and then "Honor to the Black Hawk!" and even "Honor to the Silver Fish! Honor to the Swordsworn! Honor to the Aes Sedai!" With the cavalry mounted, the devastation was apparent. Of the four hundred that rode to the Waygate only a hundred returned, again a great loss. Alallein had estimated seven hundred Trollocs in the valley, it looked to be more than that laid dead and half again were now fleeing back north, towards the Blight. This company could not give chase, the long day of fighting took that out of them, but fresh horse from Fal Dara would be dispatched on their arrival. Those Shadowspawn would not see the Blight again.

As the sun set at their backs, the riders came round the last glade of the forest and stepped out into the clearing that surrounded the fortress city of Fal Dara. Her simple walls welcomed this Hundred Companions home, and they broke to the gates with the banners held high, the Black Hawk and the White Flame. They were welcomed with cheers and honor...
1