My story (No title yet :( )

[Administrator]

Chapter One
Asrial Redleaf



“Get the squirrel Asrial!” One said
“Hold on a second Pental!” Asrial exclaimed and put a rock on his sling. “I can’t hit it with all of you jostling me!”
Asrial finished and started twirling his sling around and around. He flung the rock at the squirrel, and then heard the rock hit the squirrel.
“Wow!” Karn said and looked into the sky, “Look up there! A Gryphen!”
“Cool!” Pental said in awe “I hope I can ride one of those when I grow up!”
Asrial smiled and swished his red tail with delight and ran to get the squirrel when the Gryphon went out of site. As he picked up the squirrel by the tail he smelled the unmistakable smell of smoke. He looked up and saw some smoke coming from the town.
“I wonder what’s going on at the city, lets go find out. Leave the squirrel be Karn, you can catch one later.”
Pental said as he and Asrial strolled off in the direction of the village. Karn stood next to the dead squirrel apprehensively
“But what if we get in trouble?” He asked in a high-pitched squeak.
“We’re ten years old,” Asrial exaggerated “What can hurt us?”
Karn followed Asrial and Pental with new courage. Then they saw what was burning, it was Asrials house! It was burning just little enough that he could look inside. He forgot about his friends and ran towards his house. He looked inside and saw some men inside next to his mother who was lying on the ground
"I’ll get rid of her!"
One man said and stabbed her in the heart with an old dagger. Asrial started crying tears of pain and hatred. He ran inside yelling, grabbed his father’s Malacrite dagger off the mantle and started stabbing at the men in frenzy. Then one man yelled and someone from outside whom Asrial had not seen walked in with an animal, it was about five or six feet long, three feet tall, and two or three feet wide. Asrial thought it was called an Allmer. He knew it had poisonous venom in its jaws. He shrieked back with fear and saw its eight legs slowly moving towards him, clacking its mandibles, Asrial could see venom dripping from its mouth. He waved the dagger at it but it took no notice. It just kept coming. Time went by slowly for Asrial, and then all to soon it bit him. He felt its fangs sinking deep into his leg and the venom being pumped into his leg. He felt woozy and heard a man say,
"Let's get out of here! Don’t forget the girl."
He watched with dazed eyes as someone dragged out a kicking and crying Elena. His younger sister. And watched with fear in his eyes as they walked out. He slowly pulled himself out of the house, which was almost completely on fire now. Then he collapsed and went unconscious.


Asrial woke up and sat up in his bed, he knew it was a nightmare from his childhood. He wiped cold sweat from his face, got out of bed, and put on his green shirt. He had a large muscular build with a clean-shaven face topped with a pure black hair. Even though he was almost six and a half feet he did not look like a giant. Asrial decided to start the day by going fishing. He got some biscuits and put them in his pack along with an extra change of clothes. (He was always prepared,) Then he woke up his female fox Farren and said
"We’re going fishing today girl!"
Farren got up and gave a little bark. Asrial grabbed his fishing pole and hooked it onto his pack, buckled on his sword, dagger and leather armor. And then he put his pack on and his green hunting cloak and walked out the door into the forest, then he walked back inside and mumbled to himself.
`Forgot my horn.'
Asrial grabbed his horn off his trunk and headed back outside chuckling to himself.
He walked along the forest floor towards the creek, his red tail swishing back and forth happily. He was about six and a half feet tall. He wore a leather-studded breastplate, leather leggings and leather armlets. He heard some leaves rustling above him and quickly took out his dagger and looked up; his bright blue elf eyes scanning back and forth the trees. Then all of the sudden someone jumped down from the trees. It was a human, probably about thirty years old. He had light leather armor and leather clothes dyed dark brown. As for weapons he had a katana on his belt and a long spear on his back, Farren started sniffing the man curiously, and the man spoke
"Hello, do you know who Asrial Redleaf is? I have something for him."
Asrial replied to the man by saying
"I haven’t seen him for a while, what do you have for him?"
"A letter from the Commander of the imperial army."
"Actually, I’m Asrial Redleaf. But I can’t be too careful in these parts, can I?
"Well Asrial," The man replied giving him a quick salute. "I guess you can’t, anyways, here’s the letter."
The man gave Asrial the letter and with a quick motion he cut through the wax seal of the commander and read the letter.

‘The twenty-fourth day of the sixth month
Asrial

My scouts reported an area that there are thousands of Goblins and High Cull gathering! The scouts estimate about three and a half thousand Goblins and four hundred High Cull. You have to get to the camp right away! I have started to recruit but only have three hundred men. There are more matters to discuss when you get here.


~Commander Jack Orlean’

"Would you like me to take you to the camp?" The messenger said as Asrial put the dagger and letter away.
"Yes! But how long did it take for you to find me?" He accepted as he scratched Farrens head.
"Two days."


It took about a day and a half to get to the camp. Asrial saw palisade wall and knew they were at the military camp. The guards opened a large and they walked inside. He got some weird glances from some of the people. Obviously they had never seen a half fox. But Farren quickly bounded along behind them happily. Asrial saw a few of his own race, half human or elf and half animal. When he past someone with a tail Asrial swished his tail in greeting and the man swished his tail back. Then he saw something peculiar: it was someone sitting down on a stump sharpening his short sword with a whetting stone. He had very short blonde hair. But he looked like a she. He looked up and saw Asrial. He looked about Asrials age. Asrial looked away and promised himself he would inquire about that man. Then as he walked past he looked back at him to get a better look. He wore light chain mail and had a short sword. His foxtail was fiery orange with pure white at the tip. And his ears were a light shade of red. Asrial kept walking and went into the commander’s tent, he had a stubby beard from not shaving and his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. The commander and his captains were discussing possible battle plans; he looked up and noticed Asrial

"Hullo Asrial." The commander (Whose name was Thadius) said as Farren walked up to him and sniffed him, "We are going to go to the castle of Mythrandier soon. For that is where the Goblins are planning to attack. They already know we know where they are attacking. So we have no need for a surprise attack. It will take them about two and a half to three days to get to the castle. Oh, and by the way, I have gotten six hundred more men. That brings us to nine hundred men. Plus, there are one thousand men in the garrison at the castle. But they have four thousand five hundred Goblins, plus nine hundred High-Cull. I don't think we will win, but we have to try."
"Ok." Asrial replied "Well, how about we dig trenches around the castle and put sharp wooden stakes in the trenches and then we dig a long ditch from the river to the ditch around the castle. So the ditch is full of water, plus the stakes. And then we cover the ditch with big leaves and stuff like that and when they come they will fall into the ditches and maybe drown. It’s not much of a defense but... It’s better than nothing."
"Good idea Asrial! And I have also sent messengers to the Dwarven mines of Anolia."

Asrial and Thadius continued to talk for about an hour, when they were done Asrial walked out of the tent and saw the man sitting there with his head in his hands, his tail swishing slowly near the ground. Asrial could tell that he was crying because his shoulders were shaking.
He walked up to his and said

"Is something wrong? Are you scared? I did not expect to see another fox here. Oh, excuse my manners sir, I am Asrial Redleaf"
"Well, I guess I am a little scared.” He said and looked up. Then he started petting Farren when she started sniffing at him. “Because this will be my first time I will be in a battle. My name is Ele- Elijah Marna, and a few years ago my older brother was killed by some Goblins. His name was Thowe Marna. And I promised myself I would avenge him. So when I heard the imperial army was recruiting I told my father, who was a blacksmith. And I said I wanted to go, and since he knew how hard it was to change my mind he said OK, but reluctantly. So he gave me this chain mail and the sword. I got here a few days ago. I saw you enter the commanders tent, are you important or something? And I like your fox, she’s cute"
"Are you afraid of battle? I remember my first battle, I was a bit scared too. I will protect you if you want. Thowe Marna you say? That was a brave man. We fought together side by side and when the Commander called retreat only about five of us stayed back, including him and me. Soon we were surrounded by the Goblins. And two of the other men had gotten slain already I said we need to go but Thowe said no. He wanted to die free. And that was during the Great Goblin Uprising. Hundreds of thousands of Goblins were trying to take over the continent and kill all the Humans. The other person that was with me agreed and we tried to pull him away but he punched us and we were forced to leave him. The other person and I climbed into the trees and watched how valiantly he spent his final breaths. I’m sorry I let him go, he was a good man. And no, I'm not that important. I am a mercenary, and the imperial army hired my men and I. Back then I had about a hundred well-trained men with me. And I killed the Great Troll king during the Goblin uprising, so I guess some Goblins and High Cull will be afraid of me, and I’m a good fighter. Her name is Farren, I found her when she was a pup. A few years ago some wolves attacked her family and I heard the wolves barking. I went to investigate and found both her parents dead. I quickly fought off the wolves and picked her up. I noticed that she had a large bite along her stomach from the wolves. I went to the nearest city and got a room at an inn. I bandaged her and cared for her for the next few weeks until she was better. Then I set her on the ground and tried to shoo her away but she wouldn’t leave. So she’s been with me since.”
"You would do that for me? Thank you! Is there anything that I could do for you?"
"Well, one thing you could do for me is let me use your whetting stone, I need to sharpen my sword." Asrial said with a chuckle.

But just then Thadius came out of his tent
"We are moving to the castle of Mythrandier!" He yelled, "That is where the Goblins are planning to attack! We are heading there."
"Well," Asrial said to Elijah "We should get going. Would you like some help getting your tent down?"
"Sure, thank you." Elijah replied and started taking down the tent.

With Asrials help Elijah got his belongings ready and got the tent down in a short time. Then they started to follow the procession along the road through the forest to the castle, which was a few hours away. As they started walking the commander trotted up to him on a horse, he also had a horse behind him.


"Asrial," He said, and he gave Asrial the reigns of the other horse he had. "All the officers get a horse. And I brought one for you."
"Thank you commander." Asrial replied. He gave the commander a quick salute, got on the horse and watched as the commander galloped to the front of the line.

"Elijah, would you like to ride with me?"
"Well of course I would silly! Can you help me get on?
"Its really simple. Put your right foot here and swing your other foot all the way over to this side. Perfect! Now that you’re settled in do you want me to tell you my story?"
"Sure, it will help pass the time."
So Asrial began at the beginning. Until the part when his dream ended. He wiped away a tear at this point and continued.

“Then I collapsed and went unconscious. When I came to I saw my father and some other people standing outside. I told him what happened and I told him about my vow and I asked him to train me with weapons and he did. Since he was a black smith he made this sword and put my mothers sapphires he had given to her when they got married into the hilt as a reminder of my vow and gave it to me, and he also gave me this dagger, and until I find her my heart will not feel right. If you don’t know, an Allmers poison rearranges a human’s outer look and makes their hair and eyes look dark and they fall into a follower of the Black Prince. But I was lucky enough that a healer was in the town and he used special herbs from a far away island on me. It didn’t reverse how my hair and general look turned to look like evil. I just look like this; you should know that what looks are on the outside is not always what is on the inside. But it saved me from turning into an Allmer hybrid. And my eyes kept bright blue. My father said my will was great, because that is what kept my eyes blue.
See Allmers are creatures made and twisted by Damion the black prince, he claims to be the rightful air to the throne of Avalon. Actually he is the king’s cousin. Because his true love was killed at the sword of someone loyal to the true king he made the poison only affect people loyal to the true king. Allmers are basically giant scorpions without stingers. He calls himself the Black prince because he has totally black armor with spikes almost everywhere. And also ‘Prince’, because he is not yet king. I heard that he is secretly gathering his forces and convincing many people of Avalon that he is the true king and they join him. I also heard that an Allmer hurts… Mentally… But I’m not sure how, and that someone bit with it cannot love anyone. I think that the men who burned my house down tamed that Allmer for their own purposes."

Then the horse neighed and reared up on its hind legs, Asrial tried to calm it, but it seemed scared. Then Asrial heard other horses acting frightened and knew almost immediately what was wrong. He pulled out his sword and got ready for battle

"Elijah," He said." There's Goblins nearby. Get ready."
Then Farren ran away up a tree away from the Goblins. Then the Goblins charged out of the woods. There were only about two hundred of them, but Asrial knew they were only sent to weaken their numbers. He charged at the Goblins and yelled his war cry
"Azalay!"
He swung his sword at the Goblins, slashing left and right, and then he saw the Goblins leader. He was on a worg, a nasty reptilian creature. Like a giant lizard, but with razor sharp teeth. He was an ugly tan colored Goblin. Asrial headed towards him, and as he slashed off a Goblins head he came up in front of the Goblin leader. Asrial could tell that he was a Great Goblin because of an obvious reason; it was a head taller than the other Goblins.
Then he commenced single combat with the leader. He faked right and slashed left on the worg, it yelped and bit his horse. The horse bucked and hit the Goblin on his head. The Goblin could not defend himself when Asrial chopped off his head. But he still had the worg to worry about. It snapped at him with its razor sharp teeth. Asrial tried to block it with his Shield but it bit the small wooden shield and easily broke it. Asrial stabbed at the worg with his sword, but it grabbed it in its teeth and pulled it from Asrials grip. Asrial took out his mithril dagger and stabbed the worg in its mouth and caused it to drop his sword. He quickly scooped it up and chopped off the worgs head with a quick motion.
“Let’s get to the front line!" Asrial said to Elijah
Elijah nodded and put one arm around Asrial while slashing at the Goblins with her sword in the other hand. Then a Goblin crouched down and cut the horses front legs. The horse fell in pain and Asrial quickly hopped off, pulled out his sword and started to kill Goblins
"Elijah! Start making a path through the Goblins that way!" Asrial said and pointed
Elijah nodded again and stabbed a Goblin who was about to stab Asrial in the back.
"Thanks!" He said
Just then an eight-foot half troll lumbered up to Asrial and was about to strike when it said
"Hey! You’re the one that killed the king! You’re gonna go on my pike!"
It said and prepared to strike again when Farren of all animals or people ran out of the forest and with a little yelp bit the half troll in its leg
"Ah! Ow! Me leg! Stupid foxes!" It said and stomped its foot.
Asrial took the distraction in his favor and stabbed the half troll in the heart with his sword, then he swished his red tail in its shocked face and said
"Foxes aren’t stupid!"
Then he pulled his sword out of the dead half troll and said to Farren
"Good job Farren, but this is no place for a fox. Go!"
He watched as she trotted back into the forest, and whipped around just in time to stab a goblin, as it was about to stab him with a rusty dagger.
Then he started to look around and saw that they had killed almost all of the Goblins. He helped kill the last half troll and watched as the Goblins started to retreat in fear. Asrial got his longbow from the pack on the horse, strung it and started shooting at the retreating Goblins.

As Asrial unstrung his bow Jack came up to him and said
"Asrial, I need you to count the injured and dead. And then get everybody ready to start heading for Avalon again."
"Yes sir, I'll start now." Asrial replied.
He started walking and counting the injured and dead.




Chapter two
Mythrandier


In a few hours they were started up again and they finished the two-day trip to the castle again. And they were nearing the castle. Asrial had gotten another horse and Elijah was riding with him, as Asrial munched on some bread he pointed out to Elena
"Look, there’s the castle!" He said as his bright blue eyes scanned the city
"Oh! Asrial, it’s beautiful!" He replied in a high voice in awe as they neared he gates. That confirmed Asrials suspicions.
The guards let them in and Asrial saw the commander waiting for them.
"Where should I put the horse?" He asked him
"There’s an Imperial stable over there" He replied and pointed to the left. "There’s a tavern on the top floor of the castle. It’s for the knights and other men of the army. You can stay there tonight.’

Asrial and Elena took the horse to the stables and he put the horse in a stall when one of the stable men started to laugh at him
"Hahaha! Look at the little foxy! He’s so cute! Ahahaha!"
Asrial whipped out his dagger and in lightning speed put it up to the mans neck
"What did you just say?" Asrial said to the man as his vision started turning red. He had the blood wrath…
But Elijah shook him out of it and said
"Asrial! Leave him alone! Let’s go!"
Asrial put his knife away and walked away looking back at the man over his shoulders. As they walked to the castle they saw some acrobats juggling and doing flips in the air. Asrial clapped and tossed some coins into the air for them, and to his surprise one of the acrobats caught the coins in midair.

When Asrial and Elijah got to the top of the castle and found the tavern. Asrial got some chicken, bread and ale and they started to eat.
After they ate Asrial got two rooms for them. Elijah’s room was a bit farther down the hall than Asrials. He said goodnight and went into his room. He got a clean shirt on and lay down on his bed and quickly fell asleep thinking of his long day.
Asrial awoke up in the morning feeling refreshed, he looked out the window and saw the sun rising brining with it good light and hope to him of the day ahead. He saw baby birds waking up and peeping at there mother birds. Then he looked further into the forest, and saw very small dark shapes moving and getting steadily closer to the castle. He saw thousands. ‘No,‘ He thought and tried to look closer
‘It can’t be! The Goblins!’ He quickly put his sword and dagger belt on and ran out of his room and knocked quickly on Elijah’s door. He heard a soft "Come in!"
Asrial burst in "Elijah!” He yelled. “I think the Goblins are almost here! Get ready! Lets go!"
"What? Already?” He said “Just a moment. I need to get dressed. Can you leave for a moment?"
Asrial turned around, walked out and closed the door. Pretty soon Elijah was ready, he opened the door and they found the stairs to the top of the castle. They ran up the stairs each having almost the same thoughts. When they got to the top Elijah stared hard in the direction Asrial had pointed out. A guard came up to them and said
"What are you two doing up here?"
"We think the Goblins are here." Asrial replied
"What? Already? But-"
"I think you’re right Asrial! I think I see them!" Elijah burst out, interrupting the guard.
"Do you have a piece of glass I could borrow? It might help me see the Goblins better."
"Actually. I do, I use it to look at animals out in the forest." The guard said and he brought a piece of glass with metal wrapped around it out of his pocket. Asrial took it and looked at the Goblins
"Yup, defiantly Goblins. We better go tell the commander." Asrial said and handed the glass back to the guard and thanked him. Asrial found out what room that the Commander was in. Asrial found the room and knocked loudly on the door and heard him say come in.

"Commander!" Elijah and Asrial said together as they burst into the room. "The Goblins are here! Look outside!"
"They’re here already?" The Commander said as he walked to the window and looked out. "All I see is some smoke, wait I think I see shapes moving around in the forest coming towards the Castle"
It's the Goblins." Said Asrial. "We need to start on defenses. I think that they'll get here a few hours after noon. Tomorrow. Elijah, you should get ready for battle."




Chapter Three
Preparing for battle




In the next few hours Asrial and the Commander thought of different ways of repelling the Goblins and High Cull. An architect brought schematics of the castle and they studied them hard.

"Well" Said the Commander, "The walls are thirty-five feet high, and eight feet thick. They go around the city for a square mile. With the castle in the middle with four watchtowers on each corner which are one story higher than the Castle. That’s six stories at the top of the watchtower. And on the wall there's a small guard tower every six hundred feet. We should post watchmen in the towers with good eyes. And we can't forget the gate, it’s doubled. Which the Architects were smart enough to do. One about ten feet outside the wall, that’s the metal plated gate. And the other is ten feet inside the city like a rectangle. Twenty feet long and ten feet wide. And the Portcullis in the middle. Wow, these architects were smart."
"Exactly" Replied Asrial "We can have two men in each watch towers that are on the castle and the guard towers on the wall, that’s sixteen men. And fifty longbow archers on the top of the castle. Then we put one thousand men on the walls. Two hundred and fifty men for each side. Then that’s eight hundred men left. Then we need to guard the gate, Two hundred men. And then-"
"Wait!" Said the Commander. "Two hundred men at the gate? That’s crazy! We need more men on the walls! I say only seventy five men on the gate."
"Yes, you may think that." Asrial replied "But you must not have studied history very well. Almost every city that has fallen in the past two hundred and fifty years has fallen because of a breach at the gate. And they only had about a hundred men at the gate."
"Ok," The commander said.
"As I was saying" Asrial continued. "We have eight hundred men left. We should have fifty men bringing the wounded into the castle, strong men. And we have two hundred men on horseback at that gate. We have five hundred and fifty men left. What should we do with the remaining men?"
"Put three hundred in the reserve" Jack said
"Good idea. And we have one hundred and fifty patrolling the outer walls." Asrial said "Then one hundred men getting rocks and hot oil and pitch for the soldiers to drop on the Goblins and fifty men shooting the trebuchets and catapults. And then we could have some of the younger men help reloading them. And then have the rest of the men guarding the castle."
"I have a brilliant plan!" The commander said, "I'll get a hundred men together to flank the Goblin camp tomorrow night. Isn't it a great plan?"
"What are you thinking? Those men would get slaughtered!"
"I don’t care what you think. I'm going to do it!"
"It will end horribly!" Asrial replied to him and remembered that the Commander was a very stubborn man. And at times, stupid. He stood up and walked outside to get some fresh air.

[Administrator]

A few hours later all the men were set. The men for the raid the next night, the men guarding the walls, the men on horses and the men on the top of the castle. Asrial found Elijah sitting on the wall and looked in his eyes and saw fear in his eyes. He walked up to him, sat down and said,
"I sense something about you that I cannot trust Elijah. If you have anything you are hiding from me you need to tell me."
“I knew that the army would not allow me to join. Because they do not allow women to fight, so I cut my hair and made myself look like a man, but on the inside I am a woman. And my real name is Elena.”
“I do not blame you.” Asrial replied and looked into her eyes and saw fear, “I would have done the same thing. Is something wrong? Besides that?”
"I was picked to attack the Goblins during the night!" Elena said. "And I know it wont succeed."
"Uh-oh!" Asrial replied, "The Commander won’t change his mind, I know that. And he wont let me come with you, to risky. I'm sorry."
Elena and Asrial locked eyes and they sat for minutes looking at each other
"I have to go Elena" Asrial said softly and stood up. He saw the Commander on the ground and went to talk to him.
"Thadius, er Commander.” He said and knew he had to keep Elena’s real identity from him. “My friend was picked to be one of those to go on the night raid. Can you pick someone else?"
"Yes Asrial?" Thadius replied. "No, my mind is already set. I won't make an exception. That is what he came here to do. And you cannot go, it’s to risky."
"If it’s so risky then why does he have to go? He's my friend and I told her I would protect him."
"To bad, that is irrelevant."
Asrial turned around and quickly walked down the steps with tears filling his eyes.

The next day Elena and Asrial helped fire the catapults and trebuchets at the Goblins. After awhile Asrial walked to the walls with his longbow and, strung it and started firing at the Goblins. Since none of the Goblins had Longbows they were safe because they were out of range for right now from the Goblin short bows. But they still had catapults. Just then a rock flew by him a landed on a small cottage. He took out an arrow from his quiver, put it on his bow, pulled back the string and let it fly. He followed the arrow quickly and saw it hit its mark, right in the Goblins heart. He looked to the left and right of him and saw that the other men with longbows were following his example. Then as he put another arrow to his string he heard an arrow whip by his head and he looked at the man next to him and to his horror there was a long black arrow sticking out of the shoulder.
"Everyone down!"
He ducked down and into a crouch and looked through the slits in the wall now and then.
'Hmmm...' Asrial thought. 'It must be the High Cull, they're the only ones who could make bows for this kind of range!'
"Everyone aim for the High Cull! They must be the ones with bows good enough to fire this far!" He yelled at the men next to him and they nodded in agreement.
Asrial looked just high enough to see the Goblins and High Cull, and he carefully took an arrow out of his quiver and put it on his bow. He looked around and saw a High Cull pulling on a Longbow string and aiming. Asrial aimed at it and fired. It hit the High Cull in the chest. Then he heard screeching noises. He covered his ears and looked above the parapets of the wall. Then he saw small birds coming fast towards the wall.
“Stay down!” He yelled. And just in time for everyone to get down. Just as they all got down the birds whipped over them. Then he pulled out his sword and sliced at the birds. Then as one flopped in front of him he saw them better. They were almost like tiny dragons. Asrial slowly crawled to the northeast corner tower and ran down the stairs. Then Asrial heard screams. They were not human screams but Goblin screams. He ran back up the stairs to the north wall to look. He smiled at what he saw. Some men had dug trenches like what Asrial had planned, and the Goblins were falling into the trenches. Then he heard drums. He wondered what it could be. And then Asrial saw it. He was Awestruck! It was two big trolls! Five of them! And two more with drums! Then he heard swords clanging. He had no time to think how the Goblins got trolls. He looked to the west wall and he saw Goblins pouring over the wall.
“There’s a Goblins attack on the west wall!”
He yelled as he pulled out his long sword and ran into the fray. They had used the oldest in the book. They had sent those Goblins a bit early and they flanked the castle. He saw that there were ladders and grappling hook on the wall, and the Goblins were pouring in. He yelled at the defenders without thinking of himself.
“I’ll go to the bottom and hold ‘em off long enough for you to pull the ladders up and cut the grappling hooks! When I yell haul me up with this rope!”
He got onto a ladder and as he slid down he knocked off all the Goblins that were on that ladder. When he reached the bottom he started to fight like crazy. And then he saw that the defenders were cutting the ropes and pulling the ladders off the wall. Then a veteran High Cull appeared and saw Asrial. He yelled,
“That’s the man that killed the Troll king! Kill ‘im!”
Asrial quickly looked behind himself and saw all the ropes and ladders were gone, except that one. He grabbed a Goblin, disarmed it and tugged on the rope for the people to pull him up.
“Pull me up!” He yelled and they pulled him and the kicking Goblin up. And when he got to the top he saw the commander standing there
“Good job Asrial! But why’d you grab the goblin?”
The Goblins at this time was squirming from his grasp. Asrial grabbed the rope and started to tie him up.
“One word, Information.” Asrial replied to jack “How they got trolls, and other things. So Goblin, how’d you get trolls? And who is your leader? I will not harm you if you tell me what I want.”
“Yaggh.” The Goblin squealed, “If you spare my life I will tell you! We got the trolls from the Northlands. And our-“
Wait!” Yelled Asrial. “The Northlands? The Arcs control that area! How’d you get trolls from there?”
“That is one thing I won’t tell you! We have no leader. Now let me go!”
“No! Tell me how you got the trolls!” Asrial demanded and pulled out his dagger and pressed it against the Goblins neck.
“Haha!” Said the Goblin as he smiled “You think you will get it out of me! Kill me if you want! But I will not tell you!”
“I’ll give you one chance Goblin!” Asrial threatened.
“No! Just kill me!” The Goblin yelled. Then Asrial took his dagger and cut the Goblins neck and tossed him over the wall into the forest.

By the time the Skirmish was over Asrial saw that the sun was going down. He knew Elena and the others would be preparing for the attack on the Goblins soon. He went to say goodbye to her. He walked to the Armory and spotted her putting on a breastplate, he walked up to her and said
“Hi Elena. I just wanted to say goodbye.” And for the first time Asrial hugged Elena, she was a bit socked because they had just met. Normally Asrial wouldn't have done this but he felt sort of a bond between them. Elena hugged him back and their tails met and curled together.
“You be careful. Ok?” He added after a few seconds
“Sure, I will try to be careful,” Elena replied.
“I better get back to the walls Elena. Goodbye.” Asrial told her and started walking away with tears welling in his eyes. He knew what he had to do.
She buckled on her sword belt as Asrial walked away.
About half an hour later Asrial watched from the shadows of a house near the gate and all the soldiers going on the night raid. He saw Elena and ran up to her. He was all ready to fight but he wasn’t going with her.
“Elena, I have something for you.” Asrial said and kissed her on the cheek lightly as a goodbye. Asrial pulled away as she said goodbye and watched as they left through the gate into the woods. Just As Elena went through the gate she looked back and they’re eyes met just like when they had met. Only she had a fearful face. And she could tell Asrial was trying not to look sad. She turned her head away as she went through the gate. As they got near the Goblin camp she heard some Goblins and High Cull arguing.
“When we capture the castle us High Cull will be the commanders. And you Goblins will be lower then us!”
“No we won’t! We’ll all be equal!”
“I said we’ll be Kings and you Goblins will be our… uh, Assistants!”
“I don’t think so mister!”
Elena told the man next to her with a bow and he thought of a plan. He took out his bow and took a Goblin arrow out of his quiver. (By chance he had taken some Goblin arrows from when they attacked. He knew they would come in handy) and he put it on his bow and crept towards the camp. He took aim, pulled back the string and fired. It hit a High Cull in the stomach and it staggered back and stared at his chest in shock. There was a Goblin arrow growing out of his stomach. He yelled at the other High Cull around him
“The Goblins are trying to kill us! Get ‘em!”
“I didn’t do anything!” The Goblin yelled in terror. But to late
The High Cull had sliced off his head. And charged at the other Goblins and they started attacking each other. Elena smiled at the man and patted his back. Then she took a good look at the High Cull. She had never actually seen one until now. They had two sharp but short horns on their head and nasty looking teeth. They were about three heads taller than a normal Goblin. If you didn’t know it was a High Cull you were looking at it you might think it was a deranged Ork. She slowly crept back and followed the line of people going to the rear of the Goblin camp. When they got there they spread into a semicircle and the men with arrows got out there bows and started shooting a barrage of arrows. The Goblins And High Cull didn’t know what hit them. And by the time they charged the Goblin and High Cull leader had stopped the other Goblins and High Cull from attacking each other. Elena pulled out her sword and charged forward.

“For my Brother!” She yelled with vengeance in her eyes. She swung her sword back and forth at the on coming Goblins. A few minutes late most of the men were dead. About three hundred Goblins and High Cull lay dead on the ground in that short amount of time. Including Elena there were only about fifty people left. They were fighting for their lives when they heard a horn call. Some of the older Goblins started shrieking with fear. Then they heard a war cry.
“Azalay!!”
Then they heard the bushes and plants being crunched down as some unknown being charged towards them. Then the war cry came again and the being charged out of the forest. It was Asrial! On a horse. He charged forward with bloodlust in his eyes as his vision started turning red. He yelled at the Goblins and High Cull
“It’s me! Asrial Redleaf! I killed the great Troll king! Run in fear from me! Hahaha!”
Almost half of the Goblins and High Cull ran away in fear and confusion. Asrial blew on his again and charged at the Goblins. He slashed at them and yelled at other people.
“Run! I’ll hold ‘em off for you! Get to the Castle!”
Asrial finished and quickly looked behind him and saw the other people running towards the castle. He held the Goblins off for a moment long enough for the other people to get a head start back to the Castle. He whistled with his fingers and heard shrieking in the sky. Then he saw several small dragons diving into the ranks of the Goblins. Totally surprised the rest of the Goblins ran in fear. And he killed the remaining score of High Cull. Then as he got off his horse and wiped his sword on the ground Asrial heard a deep shaky voice and felt a cold long dagger against his neck.
“Ha! The so-called Mighty Asrial Redleaf caught by me, Argoth! So what should I do to you first?”
Asrial looked behind him and saw a High Cull standing behind him smiling, his long cold black arm against Asrials shoulder. With its dagger across his neck. Then he heard a thud and the High Culls grip loosened and he fell to the ground. He turned around and saw Elena standing there, He sheathed his sword and ran to her and hugged her.
“Thank you Elena.” Asrial said
“You saved my life, I saved yours.” Elena said and kissed him in the cheek.
“We should get back to the Castle.” Asrial suggested.
“Good idea. Lets go.” She replied

They walked back to the castle together and started talking to each other about they’re childhood. They found out that they had lived only a few miles away from each other when they were kids. When they got back Asrial was congratulated for his brave feats. He saw the commander walking up to him and he had an angry face.
“Asrial! I told you not to go! You went against my orders!” He said furiously.
“Yes,” Asrial replied. “But that was before. I stopped following you’re orders when I left. I quit. I just didn’t tell you. So I’m on my own now, but I promised Elijah I would protect him. So I didn’t obey your orders.”
The Commander shook furiously with rage “Fine!” He yelled in Asrials face and turned on his heel and walked away.
Asrial turned to Elena and started to smile, then she smiled and they started laughing
“Haha! His face looked like a- hahaha! Bloated frog!” Asrial said. “I did promise I would protect you though!”
“Yes, you did.” Elena replied “Thank you.”



Chapter four
The attack



Asrial slept in his room for the rest of the night. But in the early hours of the day, while it was just getting light out Asrial awoke to hearing shouts and swords clashing. He got out of bed and looked out the window and saw in the very dim light to the right of him on the east wall Goblins and High Cull pouring in over the wall. He also saw that most of the men from the other parts of the walls were coming to help. He quickly buckled put on his shirt, armor, sword and dagger. Then he rummaged through his bag and found a rope. He knew that it would take to long to run to there so he got his bow and an arrow and tied the rope to the arrow. He took aim and shot towards the trees. He shot just right that the arrow went right between two large branches. He pulled on the rope to make sure it was tight and got his extra belt. He knew Elena was guarding that wall and he had to find her. He slung the belt over the rope and held on. He jumped out the window, grabbed his bow and slid down towards the wall. As he got nearer he yelled.
“Azalay!” And a second later he kicked a Goblin off the wall and let go. He pulled out his sword and fought to where he heard Elena. He saw her sitting down with her back against the wall fighting. When he got to her he saw she had a large gash in her leg.
“Cover me while I bring this lady down the stairs!” He yelled to someone nearby. Who nodded and slashed a Goblin that was about to stab Asrial. Asrial picked Elena up and carried her to the Castle. Then he heard loud booms. He saw the gatehouse shaking and knew it could only be the trolls with battering rams. Then he saw a Goblin sneaking to open the portcullis. He put Elena down, grabbed an arrow and put it on his bow. Then he pulled back the string and shot the Goblin, But too late. The Goblin had already raised the portcullis. He yelled at the guards at the gate
“A Goblin opened the portcullis!”
A guard nodded and went to close it but then another boom but even louder came and the first gate broke. The Goblins and troll ran to the second gate and started battering it. And then a Goblin shot the guard that was almost going to close the portcullis. Because the switch was on the top of the wall and he went to close to the edge and he got shot. Then Asrial picked Elena up. And as he did he got shot with a stray arrow in his right arm near his shoulder. He fell over Elena and groaned in pain. He tried to move and did so with great pain. Elena pulled out the arrow and Asrial stood up and with his good arm pulled Elena up and helped her to the Castle gate. He knocked on the gate and it opened. One of the guards on duty helped Asrial and Elena inside. And the other guard closed the door.
“What’s your name?” Asrial asked the Guard
“My name’s Domovi.” The guard replied
“”Domovi? I’m Asrial!” Asrial replied” You’re my cousin, although you may not remember me. You were only about four when I saw you last. I’m guessing you’re seventeen?”
“Asrial? Wow! Yes I am seventeen. And I think I remember you.”
“Well, I need to get to the infirmary. Will you help my friend and I here get up there?”
“Sure.” Domovi said and helped Elena walk.
So Asrial and his cousin Domovi were reunited after thirteen years. When they got to the infirmary Asrial could tell that everyone had fallen back to the castle. Asrial knew he wouldn’t be able to fire a bow for at least a good month. But he fought often with his left arm and was almost as good with a sword with his left hand as his right hand. He knew that he had to help fight still.
After he had gotten his wound bandaged up and he said goodbye to Elena he went to the top of the castle and started pouring boiling oil and pitch on the Goblins. He looked at the Goblins below and knew that there were still three trolls, about a hundred High Cull and at least a thousand Goblins. And there were only a few hundred men left. Unless they got more people they were going to lose the fight. When they ran out of oil and pitch he was about to go to the bottom of the castle to help fend off the Goblins.
“Zuz Barag!”
Asrial heard a loud yell that made him cover his ears. He looked north and he could hardly believe what he saw. He ran downstairs and said to everyone.
“Reinforcements are coming! Charge out the door! Go!”
He and some other men opened the door and faced three trolls. The rest of the men ran outside and saw the almost unbelievable sight. There were at least two thousand Dwarves running through the gate. Asrial pulled out his sword and started slashing at the trolls. He slung himself onto the back of one, pulled out his dagger and sank it deep into the troll’s head. And he killed it. He put away his dagger, jumped off and started attacking the remaining Goblins. Who were caught in the middle of a circle. With Dwarves on one side, and the men from the castle on the other. He lobbed off a Goblins head and then faced the last ugly High Cull. It turned towards Asrial and pulled out another sword from a sheath on its back. And they attacked each other. Asrial pulled out his dagger and stabbed it into the High Culls stomach. It snarled and slashed Asrial good arm. But Asrial got angry and the bloodrath started controlling him. He fought like crazy. But it lowered his guard and the High Cull saw an opening and slashed Asrials leg and he fell. The High Cull growled and prepared to stab Asrial in his heart. Then Asrial heard yelling and he saw Domovi charging towards the High Cull. It turned towards Domovi and slashed his whole face from his right ear to the left part of his chin. Then Asrial saw what he needed. He stood up and quickly chopped off its head. Domovi fell to the ground and Asrial looked at the large cut. It went almost an inch deep. Asrial ripped part of his shirt off and pressed it against Domovis face. He felt tears coming from his eyes. He quickly wiped them away and tried to help Domovi. But he was losing blood fast. He looked up for a moment and saw that all the Goblins were dead. An elf came up to him and offered to help. He took some herbs from his bag and put them in Domovis wound. Then some other men came up and brought Domovi to the infirmary a nurse looked at it and said there’s not much chance for Domovi to live. She knew that there were other people who could live if she treated them. She quickly bandaged Domovi up and left to care for other people. Asrial grabbed Domovis hand and Domovi squeezed it lightly. His face was turning pale.
“Don’t let me die Asrial! I need help!”
Domovi said softly and went unconscious.
Asrial went to his room and lay down on his bed. He didn’t want Domovi to die. He had just seen him for the first time in thirteen years. He soon fell asleep and dreamed of his mother.
“Asrial” She said “Find a dwarf named Borith and ask for his service. And find your sister Elena! She is near!”
She faded in his mind and he woke up. Both of his arms were very sore. He got up and went to the barracks and went around asking for a dwarf named Borith. He found him and told him about his dream.
“Well, Asrial.” Borith said and lit his pipe. ”This happens quite often after sieges when weary and tired soldiers try to have a comfort or last resort in their weary state. But I do have some rare but very powerful healing sand. We found it deep in our mines. You may have some for your cousin if you like. Here” Borith finished and pulled a very thin vial from his bag and handed it to Asrial.
“Tap some of this on your hand and sprinkle it over his wound. And then put a little in his mouth.”
“Thank you!” Asrial replied with a smile. And he went to put give it to Domovi.

Asrial waited three hours by Domovis bed. And he started to wonder if it would ever work. He went to get some food and check up on Elena. He found her in her room and saw that she was sleeping. He sat down on her bed and she woke up.
“That was a hectic morning!” She said as she sat up in her bed, wiping sleep from her eyes.
“Yes, It was. But I’m glad you were with me.” Asrial replied.
Elena tried to stand up but she couldn’t Asrial helped her up and said
“I hope you will be able to walk again. But in the meantime. I will go to the carpenter and get a pair of crutches.” He stood, said goodbye and went to get the crutches. When he got them he brought some porridge for her and when he came in he showed her the sand and he put some of it on her leg, and then gave her the porridge. After she ate she tried to stand up and she could.
“It worked! I gave some to my cousin but it hasn’t worked yet.” Asrial said
“My leg still feels a bit sore though. I hope it works on your cousin too. He seems nice.”
Asrial explained what happened after she had gone to the infirmary as he helped Elena walk
“Let’s go see how Domovi’s doing.”
Elena said and walked in the direction of the infirmary.
When they got there they saw that Domovi was still in unconscious.
“If that wound doesn’t close up in about four days then he might die from an infection.” A nurse said “There’s not much hope for him.” She continued.

[Administrator]

Three and a half days had gone by. Asrial was sitting next to Domovi with his head in his hands.
“Asrial?” He heard a voice. He looked up and saw Domovis eyes open and gave him a glass of water.
“What happened?” Domovi asked weakly
“You were unconscious for three and a half days! You were almost dead!”
“Really? I feel much better! Except for my face is pretty sore. And I’m awfully hungry! Come on! Let’s go get some food.”
Asrial helped Domovi out of the bed and noticed that all that was left of his cut was a scar.
“I heard that there was going to be a big buffet feast tonight!” Asrial told Domovi, looking at his cheek. “And feel your cheek.”
“Wow!” Domovi exclaimed as he felt his cheek. “What happened? It shouldn’t be a scar that fast”
“Well,” Asrial replied with a chuckle. “It started with a dream.” And started explaining to him and swished his red tail.
Asrial asked a few directions in the rather large castle to a banquet hall with several large buffet tables and countless other tables. The room was in a hubbub. There were races of every kind. Except for Goblins and those other evil creatures. There were elves, dwarfs, humans and even animals. Even the king and queen were there. One of the guards stopped Asrial and said,
“Are you Asrial Redleaf? The King has requested that you sit with-“
“Wait!” Asrial burst, “You mean Thunor King of Avalon?”
“Yes,” The guard continued. “Anyway, he has requested that you sit with him at that big table in the back.” The guard finished and pointed to a table. Asrial nodded and grabbed a plate. “I hope you can sit with me.” Asrial told Domovi as he scooped up some mashed potatoes. He continued along the line with the other people. Women, men, boys, girls, and babies. He chuckled to himself as a little boy started crying about not getting some damson pudding. As he and his mother passed it the boy stuck his hand in it and licked it with obvious pleasure. Asrial cut a large piece of meat from one of the two large turkeys and some meat from a giant boar. He got a slice of bread and cake and said
“This is quite the feast, isn’t it Domovi? Oh! I forgot about Elena!” He exclaimed. Then he heard a voice from in front of him in the line.
“It’s ok Asrial, you don’t need to worry about me.” Elena said as she turned around in the line and smiled
“Oh! There you are!” Asrial said with a chuckle. And scooped up some pudding. He continued along the line with Elena and Domovi, getting a mountain of food. During the short siege all he got was a piece of bread, meat and some ale. As he finished getting food he, Elena and Domovi walked to the back of the hall and saw the king. He had a large beard and atop of his head he wore a small crown with several rubies and diamonds in them. He had the look of pure royalty.
“Oh! Hello Asrial! Come sit down next to me! And you three,” The king said and pointed to some servants. “Make room for his friends! Asrial, I’d like to thank you for all your help. And I have some bad news too.”
Asrial sat down next to the king and took a bite of mashed potatoes.
"It seems as though we came within a hairsbreadth from losing that battle."
King Thurin said "But to the point, my commander died within a short time of the
battle. And since you have had lots of fighting experience I was wondering
if you would like to take his place."
"Well your Majesty," Asrial replied thoughtfully. "Sure, I see no reason why not. But aren’t
there other men in line for leadership? And the battle is over. Or is it
not?"
"I have grave news Asrial, my spies report that Damien, the black prince has
made an alliance with the Arcs of the northlands. Even though I was sure he
would die after being exiled to the northlands. But I guess not. And he has
gathered his allies around him. Lord percivale of Draynor the Drow lands, King Halin
of the rouge dwarfs and also our worst fear. He has taken over the Malacrite
mines. But during a feast is not a time to talk of such things.
Tomorrow I will summon the Elite guard and many other warriors and we will
have a council of war. But until then we feast!" He finished and sipped at a goblet of wine. Even though there was a roaring fire behind them, Asrial felt the skin on the nape of his neck rise at the mention of Damien. He shuddered and took a large bite of meat.
They talked of other things of the few days of the battle and when they were
done Asrial said
"Well, my stomach is bulging. Thank you for the food your majesty. Us three
will surely come to the council of war. I am sorry, but my place is not commanding the front line, it’s being in the front like." He stood up and pulled Domovis ear
"Are you coming?" He asked
"Not yet." Domovi replied and took a bite of bread.
Asrial found his room and lay down, his mind blazing with questions. But
they would have to wait until tomorrow morning. He quickly fell asleep in
the warm early fall air.

“Ah! I’m glad you could make it!” King Thurin said as Domovi, Asrial and Elena entered the small but comfortable guards keep which was under the castle the next morning.
Asrial and his friends sat down as the king started speaking. Asrial looked around the room. There was probably about two score fine looking warriors there. A few were large muscular elves with deadly looking battle-axes or war hammers. One Elf caught Asrials eye especially. He had to be at least seven feet with a giant beard and a large war hammer to match his size.
“As you all know Damien the Black Prince has sprung up again. And I called you all here to select ten of you to go on a special mission. To go to the human provinces of the Lia mountains. I want to make sure that they are on our side. And more importantly fix the alliance of old. They are to much of a force to let fall into Damien’s hand. You all will be called the Kings guard. I see a few of you have no armor. And if you like I will get you armor. But now, I will name the men who will go on the mission. If I call your name come up and stand behind me.
Elweard Hasin! May your keen sight be a help.”
A medium height and slim Elf with a small goatee, large green eyes and a rapier got and stood next to Thunor. And scratched his long blond hair which was put into a ponytail
“Falkor Trent! May your loyalty and diplomacy skills be a help.”
At his right, Asrial saw a tall man with lots of muscle, jet-black hair and a massive claymore walk up.
“Asrial Redleaf. May your hearing and sight be a help.”
Asrial stood up and walked over and stood next to the king.
“Halvar Harang! May your massive war hammer help destroy anything that threatens the life of you or your friends”
Asrial watched in awe as the massive Elf got up and lumbered over and stood next to Asrial. He put his war hammer down on its head and held the iron handle. He had red hair and was at least six and a half feet tall. Asrial felt pity for whoever met the bad end of his war hammer.
“Kenelm Wise! May your knowledge help repair the old Alliance.”
A man who could not be more than five and a half feet stood up and walked silently to the King.
“Ramon Alrine! May your knowledge also help repair the old Alliance.”
Asrial watched as a human with the weight of many years on his back came up. He had two daggers on the back of his belt brown hair.
“Elijah Marna, Edmund Alp, Domovi Redleaf and Leutrim Kimble!
“When this council of war is over, you shall embark on your journey.” The king said as he picked up his glass of wine
“Your majesty,” Asrial asked, “Do you think we’ll encounter any of the princes men?”
That,” The king replied, “may be yes or no. Depending on what path you take. The fastest path may take you through a spot that he may have a camp.”