Clash at the Gates
Upon receiving the urgent news, both Ludvig and Linus were taken aback. They hastily gathered as many soldiers as they could muster on short notice and rode out of the palace to intercept Elara's warband before they could gain any further ground within the capital. Each prince harbored a singular thought: "This woman is dangerous and must be either killed or persuaded to join my cause."
Ludvig, the second prince, was always surrounded by military advisors in his youth and was renowned for his tactical acumen and cunning. He understood that Elara would not readily support either him or the first prince; she harbored ambitions to claim the throne for her own brother. However, Ludvig saw potential in working with this knowledge. He was already devising plans to use Elara as an ally to thwart the first prince's ambitions.
On the other hand, Linus, the impetuous and ambitious first prince, was known for possessing a mind as sharp as the devil himself. He viewed Elara solely as an obstacle to his ambitions and was determined to subdue her. Unlike Ludvig, Linus did not entertain the idea of exploiting Elara's talents for his own gain; he simply saw her as a threat that needed to be neutralized.
As both Linus and Ludvig rode with their soldiers towards Elara to intercept her, they dispatched messengers to their own barracks to gather additional troops. They rode swiftly, the clamor of hooves echoing through the city streets as they closed in on the location where Elara's group was expected to emerge.
As they rode through the city, the inhabitants began to close and lock their doors, and the streets emptied rapidly. Even though nobody was sure what was happening, it was instinctual to realize that venturing out at this moment could risk not only one's own life but also the lives of their entire family.
Meanwhile, in the palace, tension simmered as courtiers and advisors whispered about the sudden mobilization of troops from both parties. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and uncertainty in anticipation of Elara's warband arriving, threatening to disrupt the delicate balance of power between the first and second prince. Neither side could openly make a move against the other for fear of the nobles.
Amidst this brewing tension, one group of people began mobilizing, the King's Guard. Captain Alexandre organized his knights and the small number of soldiers he had, equipping them and riding out towards Elara's warband. However, their mission was not to engage in combat but to offer support to the War Princess.
Back on the outskirts of the city, Elara's warband continued their advance, unaware of the approaching danger. Maximillian and Adam rode near the rear of the cavalry, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble. The looming presence of the capital ahead heightened their senses, and they remained vigilant as they rode onward.
Elara, anticipating trouble, instructed her cavalry to dismount, knowing that their movements would be restricted in the narrow streets of the capital. Despite her soldiers' protests, she herself dismounted from her horse.
"You need to stay on the horse so you can escape faster," one soldier shouted.
"Yes, Your Highness, your life is important, please stay on a horse," another added.
The pleas continued until Elara turned to face the soldiers behind her and spoke firmly, "My life is as important as the lives of my brothers-in-arms."
Her words silenced the soldiers, who then accepted her decision without further protest.
Elara, leading her warriors at the forefront, maintained a composed exterior despite the underlying tension. She knew their entry into the capital would not go unnoticed, but the full scope of the situation was beyond even Elara's anticipation.
As they drew closer to the heart of the city and the next wall loomed in the distance, torchlight illuminated the streets, casting eerie shadows against the stone walls.
Suddenly, the thunderous sound of approaching hoofbeats reverberated through the streets, jolting Maximillian into action. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, heart pounding against his chest as he spun around to face the oncoming riders.
"RIDERS! CAVALRY BEHIND US!" Maximillian's urgent cry pierced the air, setting off a flurry of motion among the remaining soldiers of the convoy. Spears were raised.
"HIGHNESS, WE'VE GOT COMPANY!" Adam's voice rang out, filled with urgency as he drew his sword, echoed by the clatter of steel as others followed suit.
"IN FORMATION, MY BOYS!" Sullvian's command cut through the chaos, rallying the soldiers into action. Four soldiers positioned themselves directly around Elara, shields raised protectively over her. Behind this inner circle, a larger ring of soldiers armed with swords and shields formed a defensive barrier, ready to engage the enemy.
Inside the ring of sword and shield, another circle of soldiers wielded spears, extending them outward to create a formidable barrier against the charging cavalry. The soldiers braced themselves.
"GOOD LADS! HOLD STRONG!" Sullvian's voice boomed with pride as the soldiers locked into position, the rhythmic clatter of hooves drawing nearer. Elara's warband braced for the imminent clash, their resolve unyielding in the face of danger.
But then the cavalry abruptly halted their charge and wheeled around. Within moments, the first prince, Linus, and his contingent of soldiers emerged into view. Linus rode at the forefront, his expression filled with delight and a twisted sense of satisfaction.
"Oh, are you all afraid for your miserable lives? You scattered like frightened animals," Linus jeered, his tone dripping with contempt as he surveyed Elara's warband like prey.
Elara met Linus's gaze, her demeanor composed yet watchful. "Linus," she acknowledged, her voice steady. "To what do I owe the honor of this unexpected encounter?"
Linus dismounted from his horse, his soldiers fanning out behind him with smug grins. He approached Elara with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
"Elara, why do you treat me with such formality? After all, we are family," Linus sneered, his face contorting with anger and disgust. He spat on the ground near Elara's soldiers feet. "Your mere presence in the Royal family brings us down to the level of peasants," he added, his voice dripping with disdain. His expression revealed his profound revulsion. "Did you realize that your arrival has caused a stir among the true royal family? My brother and I were quite taken aback to hear of your presumptuous appearance," he continued, implying confidently that the second prince shared his sentiments, though he was unaware of his brother's true thoughts.
Elara arched an eyebrow, unfazed by Linus's thinly veiled threats. "Is it too much to ask to see my dying father?" she replied calmly. "I have no interest in seizing your pathetic throne."
Linus's lip curled into a sneer as he stared at Elara, his eyes filled with malice.
"Surely you don't desire the throne yourself, you slut," he said, his gaze sweeping around. "Then why not come alone?" he questioned. Hearing him insult Elara enraged her soldiers, evident as they raised their swords higher.
"So you can kill me more easily?" Elara replied with a hint of playfulness.
"Yes, that would indeed simplify my task," Linus responded with a grin across his face.
Before Elara could respond, the second prince, Ludvig, arrived with his soldiers from the opposite direction, converging on the scene. The tension in the air was palpable as the three figures—Elara, Linus, and Ludvig—faced each other against the backdrop of the city's gates. Elara found herself surrounded.
"Well shit." Sullvian said
"Greetings, Sister," Ludvig said with a mix of cheer and worry, then turned to Linus with a hint of mockery. "And greetings, dear brother."
Hearing Ludvig's tone, Linus retorted, "Why don't you show me some love? I'm your favorite brother, after all." He received a cold shoulder from Ludvig, who dismounted his horse and moved closer to Elara's soldiers.
"You want to bid father goodbye?" he spoke gently towards Elara.
"Yes, I want to bid father goodbye," Elara replied calmly.
"Okay," Ludvig responded, then turned to Linus. "What are you doing here, idiot? Got nothing better to do?"
Linus's eyes widened in fury at Ludvig's insult. "You dare insult me in front of her?" he snarled, his voice rising. He turned his attention back to Elara, his expression contorted with rage.
"Father is not well, Elara," Linus said, his voice low and menacing. "You should have known better than to show your face here, tarnishing our family name with your presence."
Elara met Linus's hostility with a calm demeanor. "I'm here to bid farewell to our father, Linus," she replied evenly, her gaze unwavering.
Ludvig stepped closer to Elara's soldiers, ignoring Linus's outburst. "Let her through, Linus," he said, his tone firm. "We have more pressing matters to attend to than your childish antics."
Linus's face twisted with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "You think you can order me around, Ludvig?" he spat. "I won't let you stand in the way of what's rightfully mine."