An Ashlanders Tale Chapter 3 Options

[jonajosa]

Intermission

[minque]

Ah great....more about Johannes the sweetheart, and now she´s been captured by chimers.....ah well, she´s strong and confident she´ll handle this well, I believe in her...

It´s a lovely story jona.....i hope you can update it often, ´cause I simply love it....no need for more words here.......except


"keep it coming and get back to writing, you there, Mr!" :goodjob: :lickinglips:

[Soulseeker3.0]

great job Jona!

[minque]

Ok so I post in your story again...you know why? well because I don´t like people being sad....and I want to hear more...

:goodjob:

[jonajosa]

I was not going to be sad. I was joking. DO not post here if you have nothing to say... It makes me feel like you pity me.

[Burnt Sierra]

Pity? No, not pity. I admire the story, your willingness to go into new directions, and the feel of epic battlescenes you create. I must admit, I think in many ways I prefer the newer chapter, and you know how much I liked the previous one. There's more emotion now though, more to tug us in towards the character. I can't wait to have the differing strands of the story brought together (if that is in fact the author's intention). It's funny, so many stories have been postd on the varying forums since this one started, yet none of the other's have followed the approach you've set out. Surprising in many ways, but it has the huge benefit of still making this story seem very fresh. Whenever you have the time, an update, however small, would be most welcome.

[Ryden294]

Great story here jona. Easy to read, of course, and very nice twists and descriptions. Keep it up!

[minque]

[quote=Ryden294]Great story here jona. Easy to read, of course, and very nice twists and descriptions. Keep it up![/quote]

that´s exactly what i´ve been telling him over and over again but he doesn´t listen.......

[jonajosa]

What do i do to show that i havn't been listening? I keep it up, It has twists and its easy to read. I havn't posted anything here yet because i've been busy with my "work". Demands Demands.

Just keep a look out and one will come soon enough. Mabye Tommorow???? We may never know... :paperbag:

[jonajosa]

“Take to the lines! Bowmen, at ready! Pikemen, form up!” Marit shouted at his own men. It was the morning after last nights dinner and we were confronted with the problem of dealing with a Large invasion force that was just off shore. It seemed that Marit’s trip to Tel Vos was going to be canceled…

I looked out over the sea and saw hundreds of white sails slowly coming towards us. The sight made me shake in my boots but the thought of Marit standing beside me in my time of need comforted me. I looked around to see where he was and saw that he was standing on top of a box shouting at people as the came to him. He seemed very frustrated at what they were telling him.

I was about to walk to him when he jumped off his box and came to me cursing.

“What’s the matter?” I asked in a concerned voice.

“Its that stupid general form Tel Vos! He refuses to send me reinforcements because he’s afraid they,” He pointed out into the sea at the sails, “might take the city while his army is gone!” He turned to me with a look of concern on his face, “I think now would be a good time for you to leave. For I believe that I won’t come out of this battle alive.”

“No.” I said sternly, “I wish to stay with you and fight.” I looked at him with determination but he only returned my look with a face of fear. Fear not of himself dieing but a fear of the death of his loved ones… Me.

“You are not something I wish to lose.” He said in a pleading voice.

“Nor are you something I wish to lose. I must stay, I cannot be without you.” Tears formed up in my eyes and I reached out to him. He hugged me and we stood there for a long time trying to think of a way for this to work. Marit looked up and signaled one of his men and made several gestures with his eyes. Then let go of me.

“Goodbye my love.” He said.

“What do you mean good—“ I was knocked out and dragged onto a horse.

“Take her to Tel Vos and have it arranged that she be sent to a safe place.” Marit told a rider. The man nodded and rode off with me bouncing unconscious on the saddle. “Goodbye” he whispered just as the first Nordic boats started landing on the beach. “Goodbye….”

[minque]

Thank you for updating this.....i was very happy to see that and it´s just getting better and better, you combine military life with...with subtle feelings and warmth...and I like that very much......


you did a great job here and i can´t wait for the next update....... :goodjob:

[jonajosa]

“Run my lady!” My new escort shouted as we ran through streets of Vos. The city was under attack by the nord army and it was about to be taken. “We must leave before this place is overrun.!” I looked behind me and saw that most of the city was in flames.

“No…” I whispered. The thought of how the nords managed to get here brought a pain to my heart. Could they have killed Marit and all his men? I shook my head to clear those thought and turned back around to see where I was running.

As we rounded the next corner I could see the docks at the bottom of the hill. They seemed to be under control at the moment but before we could start down there I heard screams behind me. I turned to see what was causing the noise and I saw several women running behind us trying not to get caught by the men behind them. The men behind them were 2 nord pikemen who had blood all over them. They were laughing and calling out taunts at the women they were chasing.

One woman fell and was trying to get up when one of the pikemen ran up and stabbed her in the back. She screamed sharply and quickly fell quiet. Anger swelled up inside of me and I stopped in my tracks and turned to face the nord pikemen.

“Come and fight me!” I called out to them in their native language. They understood what I said and ran at me with a bloodcurdling yell. I realized I had no weapon in which to fight these men and I quickly decided that I should run. But before my body could react to my thoughts one of the nords was already upon me. He jabbed with his pike and I was sure that was going to be the end. But just before the pike hit me my escort jumped out and parried the blow away. In the same motion he spun forward and cut off the nords head.

The other nord shouted at my escort and charged him jabbing franticly with this pike. But my man was to fast and nimble for him and easily dodged the attacks. Frustrated, the nord lunged at my escort and tried a swipe at his legs. But the man saw it coming and jumped out of the way and rushed the pikeman in his own frenzied attack. Slashing left and right a few times and thrusting his sword into the nords chest so deep that only the hilt was visible from the front.

I ran to my escort and grabbed his arm. “Thank you for saving me. I don’t know what came over me. I just had to help those women…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s my job to protect you. Now if you don’t mind I think we should leave before more of those guys show up.” He said smiling.

I nodded at his suggestion and we ran off towards the docks. It wasn’t long before we were pushing our way through the crowded area around the boats. People were yelling and demanding that they be taken across the bay to Tel Mora. I looked around and saw many families huddled together praying to the gods for protection and guidance. I felt sorry that most of them would die here when the nords reached the docks.

“Come this way my lady.” My escort shouted to me. I followed him through the crowds and soon we were standing at the waters edge looking for a boat to take us to Tel Mora.

“I don’t think anybody is coming to save us.” I said in a sad and disappointed voice. Was this dock going to be my final resting place? I was still wondering what to do when somebody started shouting beside us.

“Look! They are here to save us!” A man was pointing out over the water to a large group of boats coming at us at a very fats rate. I strained my eyes to see the banner being flown by the lead ship but all I saw was a dark red flag blowing in the breeze. Soon others were shouting at the boats for them to come to us.

Screams came behind us as the nords got closer to the edges of the docks. I looked again over my shoulder to see this time the entire city in flames. I also saw the nord army pouring out of the streets down towards us. I looked back out over the water to see if the boats were closer and to my surprise they were almost to shore.

“They’re almost here!” Someone else shouted.

“Were saved!” Another echoed across the crowd.

The boats slowed their speed as they got closer to shore but they were still going to fast to dock safely at the piers. I wondered what was going on. Several of the boats veered off from the main group and rowed towards us. One man stood up on the deck and shouted for us to get in line so we could board the boat easier.

I looked to my sides and saw as the first boats crashed into the shore. They kicked up sand and rocks as they slowed down but soon they came to a stop at the beginning of the hill. Dozens of soldiers poured out of the boats and began rushing up the hill towards the nord occupied city. Many fell to the rain of arrows coming down the hill at the Chimmer soldiers but most of the force made it to the top of the hill and engaged in combat with the nord archers.

I wanted to stay and watch more of the battle but my escort pulled me into the line for boarding the boats. Soon we were on the boat and sailing away from the flaming city. I watched as the other boats pulled away from the docks and followed us and how the Chimmer army began to fight its way into the city.

Soon I thought, soon I would be back and ready to fight for my country.

[minque]

whew.....that was a close one.....Imagine the Nord brute when Johannis yelled at him in his own language...! Great description of the battle, through the eyes of the young Nord, and also concern about the chimer, Marit.....it´s getting better and better, and I honestly wonder what´s now going to happen.....

I´ll do a burntsierra: "Please Sir, can I have some more?"


:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

[Burnt Sierra]

I'm going to say it here as well. Brilliant. You've really cranked up the tension with this now. I awoke this morning to find not one, but two updates. I'm sure the look on my face was priceless, even more so as cornflakes dribbled out of my mouth. Hey, not my fault, my mouth couldn't stay closed reading it. The image you created of the ships arriving at the city, and then battle after..... still with me, and showing no sign of leaving anytime soon.

[Burnt Sierra]

Aargh, how on earth did I double post? sorry. Oh, well, I'll add :lickinglips: so it's not wasted. Jolly good, old chap.

[Dantrag]

I catch up on this soon, even though I haven't read the last few parts, I know they are awesome so...



:goodjob:

[jonajosa]

“We must evacuate the city general! The nord army is rebuilding up its strength and will soon launch an attack against us here at Sadrith Mora!” A lesser general shouted at the commanding general Galos. Galos however did not seem angered at the tone of voice the other general was using and just stood there staring right back at him with a stern face. The other captains stood to the sides waiting to be told what to do by one of the generals. Finally after a long pause between the commanding officers one of the captains spoke up.

“I believe that staying here and trying to fight off the nord attack would be the best thing to do.” He looked at the lesser general, “For if we retreat where will we go? There are no other armies for us to join with within several hundred leagues from here. My vote goes for the decision to fight.”

Another Captain walked up beside the first and laid his hand down on the map we were gathered around. “If we are going to fight then I suggest we build up the defenses at the northern and western ends of the island. Those are the areas that the nords will surely strike first. But we must leave room at the southern end of town for the women and children to escape.”

The lesser general stood up strait and his face reddened. “I will not be killed in this forsaken town. We will surely all die if we stay! We must fall back to this,” He slammed his finger down on a small group of islands south of Sadrith Mora, “group of islands. We could easily hold them off from there.”

“Yes but the nord army could always bypass us and strike at the other towns while we sat there waiting for them.” The first Captain said.

“They could also trap us there and starve us to death. I for one do not wish to die retreating but fighting. This town must be held! It is vital to the counter attack planned by the Nerevar to retake Tel Vos.” Another Captain shouted.

The Lesser general’s face grew so red I could have sworn it would have exploded if someone poked it. He jumped back from the table and stormed out of the planning room shouting, “You will all die! When I come back with more men do not expect any help from me!”

General Galos turned to the men in the room with the same expression he had when he entered the room and smiled. “Well then, It’s settled. We fight.”

When the others had left the room Galos turned to me and gestured for me to walk with him outside. When I got to him he immediately began talking about preparations for the battle. Much of which I wasn’t all that interested in but one thing he said I did hear clearly, “…When Marit and his men get here we should have enough to hold the eastern shore…” I stopped dead in my tracks and faced Galos.

“You have word of Marit? He is alive? How is he? Where is he? When will he get here?” So many questions came pouring out of my mouth at once I had trouble catching my breath when I was done. The general smiled and began to answer some of my questions.

“Marit will be here sometime tonight. From my understanding he made it out of Tel Vos alive and with men to spare. Quite a remarkable man he is. In fact when he gets here I was planning on making him my new Second in Command to replace that deserter we just saw in the Planning room.”

“I’m just glad he’s ok. I thought he was dead from the battle awhile back but it seems he still going strong. He seemed like the kind of person that would never give up.”

The general nodded and stopped at a section of the beach to watch the soldiers begin to build walls and trenches for the defense. He sighed and without facing me began to talk. “I feel that I made the right decision back in the room but… that decision might cost me many lives. Lives that I cannot replace. Tell me Johannes, Do you think I made the right decision today?”

“I feel that you did what was best for the safety and well being of your men and of the well being of the people that live here. I trust you and will fight with you to the end if I have to.” I felt a surge of pride for the words I had just spoken but deep down inside I doubted myself. Would I really fight till the end with this man? The answer would come soon enough for just then the first white sails of the Nordic fleet appeared over the horizon.

Galos saw them and began shouting, “Curses! Their here sooner than I expected. Send word to the Captains to ready their men and gather all the male men in the city to fight. This city will fight till the end.”

[treydog]

An excellent action/adventure story. Good fight scenes, but it also has wonderful descriptions of the characters. We see events through their eyes and come to care for them and worry that Johannes will not only survive but find happiness.

[Soulseeker3.0]

yay finnaly read those last parts, great job Jona!!!

[minque]

I usually agree with treydog in writing-matters...and this is no exception, you really get the atmosphere of "military life" ...man you must be a reincarnation of some general from the civil war...

Jona, Jona, Jona.....please continue .....

eh..one question though: Will it not be painful for Johannis to fight her own people?....or has she converted to chimer-ism....