The Vampire's Princess

Northern Border of the Kingdom of Melbright

Valin

The air was thick with tension, the wind that howled across the king’s army brought with it the stench of the already dead, and the enemy that was now marching towards the city of Melbright. King Glen Longden studied the faces of the men, women, elves and vampires around him. Some showed fear while others kept their heads held high, ready to die for their kingdoms, for their lands, and ready to die for our peace.

A large army of goblins, trolls, ogres and everything evil, were all led to the lands before Melbright by a warlock who had turned to the dark, they threatened Glen’s kingdom and all of the surrounding territories of Aradia. The king was not going to give into the warlock’s darkness, there was too much light in his kingdom of men and with the help of my people and the elves, we would put an end to this bloody war. These men and my own trusted King Glen, and I would have been a fool not to bring my own people to this fight, for this was to be the battle to end it all, and we would not be driven from our homes.

Glen had also called upon the help of the elves that lived in the nearby forest, most of them along with my own army of vampires came in support of the king of men, to defend our own people, and all the good in Aladia, hoping that after today we could live in peace once again. The darkness that grew in the north got stronger every day, and we were all as determined as ever to put it to an end. That day would be today, we would make sure of it.

I had led my army into the sprawling fields that bordered Melbright, meeting with Glen’s army as the enemy grew nearer. We hoped to keep this fight away from the city and its people. Everyone present was going to fight for their freedom today or die trying. The king and I would do the same for our people, they all knew that we would die for them. After the warlock drove out the Fae, we all banded together to eliminate this enemy. It had been 10 years since then and our numbers were low, but we were determined. I watched as Glen left my side and mounted his horse, muttering to his commander before turning to address the rest of us.

“Faithful people of Aladia!” His voice boomed across the field, all eyes on the king. “Today we fight for our homeland! For our old, for our young. Today we fight for our liberties, the land, our futures and your kingdoms. And today, I fight for you. I see that many of you are frightened, you are scared of death. If that is your fate today, then embrace it, for your death will not be in vain. We will face this threat to our peace and our families! Today we ride to victory!”

A smile spread across my face as I watched him, my friend had always been good with words, making people believe and have hope. The man could get you to just about anything. Turning his horse to face the large army in front of us, he pulled his sword from its sheath and aimed it at the sky. Today we would decide the fate for everyone in Aladia, we would fight, and they would fall. Glen looked to his sides, I nodded to him while his commanders came to the front.

“Are you ready my friend?” Lord Pervious of the wood elves asked to my right.

“I have always known I would die among my friends; never did I think it would be with an elf and a man.” I said, readying my stance as the army before us blew their battle horns, initiating their own charge.

“To the death then, Valin. May Asteria protect the king.”

I smiled, “She has always been on his side.”

“For Melbright! For liberty! For Aladia!” Glen shouted and the battle cries from our army rang loud through the land.

The king kicked the sides of his horse, leading the attack. Both armies charged for each other, the ground shook with violence as the thundering of hooves and armor hammered into the ground, puffs of air coming from the horses’ noses as they ran full sprint at the army before us. I ran side by side with Pervious, and the king set his eyes on the warlock king. He may have wicked powers, but Glen was a marvelous swordsman. I only hoped it was enough, the king needed to return home to his wife. His son had just been married but begged to join his father in battle, Glen hesitated only a moment before allowing him to come, and my job here was to protect the young prince with my life.

The first clash of iron and steel came together, and I tried to watch as Glenn charged his horse to his target, never wavering as the cavalry helped clear the way. As he got closer to Arlodus, his horse was suddenly taken out from under him violently, and Glen barely managed to land on his feet, he swung his sword wide at Arlodus, and it collided with his staff.

“You are a brave man to bring me your crown yourself, king Glenn.” The warlock snarled, pushing his staff so it broke free of the sword.

“You will never have it, I am king here and you are a blight to these lands!” I heard the exchange as they fought, sword against staff over and over.

“After today, Glen,” he said, voice full of venom, “you will be no one’s king!”

Glen, fended off a goblin who had charged at him, giving Arlodus a chance to attack, the king dodged, but just barely. Some knights tried to help but were hit with an invisible force and pushed back. I tried to lend my assistance as well but was hit just as hard with the warlock’s magic. Arlodus was now making sure that no one could interfere with his fight. I stood side by side with Marcus and Pervious, and we fought the goblins that tried to attack the king, it was the only thing we could do for him as he fought the hardest battle for us.

After what seemed like ages, I saw the moment Glenn had found his opportunity. The warlock became distracted by a knight to his left, coming in for an attack hitting his barrier, and the king took the opening, putting his foot on a nearby boulder he used it to push himself hard into Arlodus, his sword digging into the warlock’s side. But with that victory, also came a fatal wound to the King.

I saw the flash of silver in Arlodus’ hand before the king’s sword went through the warlock. But if Glen had hesitated, even for a fraction of a second, then he would have missed his chance to end this war. He had let Arlodus stab him instead of dodging. The surrounding fights slowed and one by one every one went still. The army of creatures the warlock had brought coward back from their opponents, shrinking away as their king lay dying. The rest of us just stood in silence, watching, looking at King Glen in sadness.

Marcus’ eye went wide and he went to move to his father, but I grabbed hold of his shoulder, “Wait, young prince, let your father end this.”

“It seems,” the Arlodus sputtered, choking on his blood and spitting it on the ground at Glen’s feet, “that neither of us was victorious today.”

“That is where you are wrong. I did not fight this war for myself. With Asteria as my witness, I welcome my own death, as a sacrifice for the people of Aladia.” Glen said as he stood over Arlodus, taking his sword from the warlock’s flesh and raised it high above his head. “That’s the difference between you and me. I did it for them, you caused all of this bloodshed for your own selfish purposes. And now it is over.”

With one swift motion, he cut off the warlock’s head, and it rolled across the battlefield as his army ran away. Leaving us victorious. But the cost of victory was great.

“Father!” young Marcus’ voice was the first to be heard, I released my hold on him and he ran up to the king. “Father, are you hurt?”

The king nodded, looking at his son with proud eyes, “Yes, Marcus, my boy.” He pulled his hand from his side where Arlodus had stabbed him, the wound was deep and blood poured out in long spurts.

Glen was no longer able to stand, his legs giving way beneath him and Marcus and I used our own strength to steady him before he fell to the ground.

“It seems, my dear friend, that Asteria wants you to join her after all.” I helped him to lay down on the ground and Marcus held his father’s dying form in his arms.

“It was an honor to serve her and my people.” he turned to gaze at his son as his eyes glazed over. “Marcus, you must tell your mother… that I love her very much.” The young prince nodded, keeping his emotions from his own face, he knew by the way his father spoke to him that the king was not going to make it home alive.

Closing his eyes, Glen whispered to his son, “you will make a fine king, my son. You are a great man, take care of your mother and your new bride.” And with that, his eyes closed, his last breath passed between his lips, and he died in Marcus’ arms.

I kneeled down next to him, and turned my head up toward the sky, shouting loud for all to hear me.

“Hail! King Glen! Hail to the king of man! For he has saved us all on this day!”

Every man, woman, elf and vampire kneeled and shouted in unison, chanting over and over, “Hail! King Glen! Hail the king of man!”

This war was finally over, and with the passing of the king, flowers bloomed around him. Moon Haven flowers. Asteria was claiming her king, and our savior, the flowers wrapped around his body gently and brought him into the earth to join her.

***

Marcus

“The death of King Glen was felt throughout the kingdom and mourned heavily in the city. He had sacrificed himself to save the kingdom, our people, he had put an end to the dark that day. All who fought would never forget his selflessness, and from then on I have worn his crown proudly.”

“Oh father, what a great man our grandfather must have been.” Charels, my eldest son and heir to the throne, said as he looked up at me, the boyish gleam in his eyes lit up my heart.

“He was the greatest of men, my boy.” I said and sat him on my knee.

“Papa, do you think maybe the warlock was sad? Perhaps even lonely?” Evony, my most daring and adventurous child asked me. Her bright eyes looked up at me from her spot on the floor, “He only had goblins and ogres for friends, and they are sure to stink.”

“I do not know why he did the things he did my little love. But bad men are still bad men. Even if they are sad and lonely men, with only stinky goblins for friends.” I rustled her hair slightly, “Now, off to bed with the two of you.”

“I wish to be like grandfather one day,” Evony said with enthusiasm. “I will be the bravest of fighters papa.”

“I am sure you will be, little love.”

I tucked them in their beds after several tiny hugs and kisses and wishes goodnight. Those two made me tell them the story of my fathers bravery almost every night and it warmed my heart to know that my children would never forget what a great man their grandfather was. They wished to be like him, and I could only hope that I could be half the man he was.

King Glen, the man who was chosen by Asteria, the goddess of power, life and death, to save Aladia. Maybe she had grand plans for me, or my family. Little did I know that one of my children would one day surpass my own legacy.