Into the Fortress

Gaius Marius was probably the biggest Knight in the whole of Midgard. His large bulk, complimented by his armor, made him look like a Golem. He had a swarthy face flecked with battle scars; evidences of former battles and his glory in warfare. He is one of the Red Roses strongest men, and he could be considered second to Cedric Hawke, his Guildmaster.

Instead of wielding a Lance or Sword like most Knights, Marius wielded an axe, specially forged for him by Arlbalest, the guild Blacksmith. But ever since his master Cedric gave him a Thornecraft Earthen Halberd his weapon of choice changed. Together with the halberd, Marius was an unstoppable killing machine.

Tonight Mariuss post was by the watchtower at the southern tip of the castle. His helm and a Mr. Scream mask hid his heavily scarred face. He stood stock-still like a statue, unmoving and hidden away at a dark corner of the watchtower.

However, an odd grumbling sound attracted Mariuss attention. He shifted silently in his dark corner, watching with alert eyes. His eyes widened with what he saw next.

Huge spikes of earth popped out of nowhere, growing and growing until they were the same height as the watchtower itself. Narrowing his eyes Marius saw three people climb up the spikes: a Huntress, a Blacksmith and a Wizard. He gripped his halberd tightly in his hands.

"Ssh, quiet, Signy!"

"I am quiet! Its you whos noisy!"

"Shut up, the two of you!"

The three intruders silently and safely made it into the castle by hopping across the high ledges usually reserved for Archers in times of a siege. Marius recognized the Huntress and the Blacksmith immediately. It was Signy Brynhild and Altair Thorne. Their companion, a Wizard with a sakkat, Marius did not know.

"I wonder where they keep Lilianwe have to find her!" Altair was saying anxiously.

"Rush and well be in trouble!" Signy told him.  "There are only three of us hereand look at what were charginga whole guild! We have to do things cautiously lest we fail!"

"Shut up!" Nerva hissed.

They were just about to sneak to the nearby door when Mariuss halberd greeted them, missing Nervas foot by two inches.

"BASH!"

"Holy!" Nerva shrieked, jumping backward as the concrete floor exploded right before him.

"A giant!" Signy gasped.

Marius loomed before them, huge bulk illuminated by the torches. He was spinning his halberd above his head for another attack.

"SPEAR STAB!"

Nerva had to duck, swish, crouch and retreat to avoid Mariuss rapid stabs directed to him. Altair and Signy, on the other hand, were already at the door.

"Come on, Nerva, freeze him! Lets go!" Signy said desperately.  "Come on!"

"Nervy!" said Altair.

Marius could not believe what he was hearing. He stared down at the Wizard he was attacking. Nerva? Was this Nerva alThor, this man who hid his face beneath a sakkat? But it was impossibleTHE Nerva alThor he knew and heard of died six years ago.

"Go ahead!" Nerva shouted.  "Go ahead without me! Ill just follow!"

"Nerva, what!" said Signy.

But Altair grabbed her.  "Come on!"

"We cant leave Nerva with this monster!" Signy protested.  "What are you?!?"

"He said hed follow! I trust him! Now come on!" Altair persisted.

Signy was unable to do anything. She and Altair vanished into the small door. Meanwhile, Nerva was busy dodging Mariuss Spear Stabs. He wanted to get away at an optimum distance to be able to cast a spell, but this Knight obviously knew what he was planning. He couldnt step away.

"Two Hand Quicken! Pierce!"

Marius attacked relentlessly, Piercing here and there. Nerva was having a hard time dodging his attacks. The halberds head whizzed lethally. Nerva jumped back, avoiding it by two inches. He seized his chance.

"Soul Strike!" Nerva shouted.

Five ancient spirits delivered a swift attack that Marius could not possibly avoid. The Knights enormous bulk crashed to the ground. Nerva tried to run toward the door and follow Altair and Signy, but Marius threw his halberd at him.

"Spear Boomerang!"

Nerva gave a strangled yell as he felt the halberds blade graze his back. Hot blood started to spurt out from his opened scar. He fell face-first on the floor. Marius was quickly on his feet.

"You dare challenge the Red Roses, intruder?!" Marius yelled as he picked up Nerva by the neck. "You shall die!"

"Notbeforeyou!" Nerva choked.

Nerva gathered all his strenght in his right foot and slammed it forcefully into Mariuss you-know-what. Marius yelped and dropped Nerva, who immediately scuttled away.

Nerva saw his chance for a spell. He raised his right hand, and his eyes glowed white as magical power surged through his body.

"Quagmire!"

The flooring Marius was standing on started to melt like putty. He yelled as the solid concrete turned into a murky swamp. He started to sink, first up to the knee, until the Quagmire swallowed him up to the neck. He was thrashing madly but it was no use. Nerva surveyed his work with satisfaction.

"Never mess with me!" he yelled in farewell, dashing after Altair and Signy.

Meanwhile, Altair and Signy were already being greeted by surprised Red Roses members whom they met on their way downstairs. Five Knights, two Assassins and an Archer surrounded Altair and Signy.

"Tight one, this!" said Altair.  "Wish I could Hammerfall em all but they arent Undead!"

"Leave it to me!" Signy licked her lips.

She loaded her bow.  "ARROW SHOWER!"

Altair ducked as crystal arrows came whizzing around him. Every opponent who surrounded them took an arrow in their foreheads. They all fell to the floor in perfect, unrehearsed unison.

"And that, my dear, is Signys specialty!" the Huntress said proudly.  "Ha!"

"OH DAMN, LOOK OUT!" Altair shrieked.

He grabbed Signy just in time. An Assassin nearly killed her with an Envenom. The Assassin eyed them interestedly, licking his lips.

"Ooh, Firnheild. Ooh, interesting!"

The Assassin was just to about to attack once more, but he turned into a solid block of ice and crashed to the floor, breaking into thousands ofofbloody (sorry! >_<) pieces. Nerva came skidding before Altair and Signy, ignoring the blood dripping behind him.

"Did I miss anything?" Nerva asked at once.

"No, you were just in time!" Signy said exasperatedly. "Ah, god, youre bleeding!"

"Oh, thatno reallyHeal!"

And he Healed. Signy blinked.

"Did you see that?!" she burst out.

Altair grabbed her head and twisted it around. She moaned. About thirty more Knights, Assassins and now, Hunters, stood at the end of the hall, waiting for them.

"Ooh yeah." said Nerva, charging head-on.  "More ass to kick! LORD OF VERMILION!"

Cedric had been unwillingly tugged from his sleep. He bolted upright, looking around at the darkness of his room. He strained his ears to listen. And then he realized he wasnt dreaming. Loud crashes, rumbles, growls and explosions were happening all around his castle. He stood up, cursing.

His fortress was under siege!

He quickly got up and started to dress. He almost jumped back on his bed when he saw the southern tower explode in a great, billowing cloud of flame. He gritted his teeth and cursed as he reached for his Ice Katana.  He kicked open the door, and just as expected, Pratchet was waiting for him, his face deathly pale.

"What is happening around here?" Cedric demanded as they walked the hall with furious strides. Yet another explosion shook the fortress.  "Speak!"

"Altair Thorne has come, Master!" said Pratchet.  "He has Signy Brynhild with himand an unknown Wizard companion! Theyre unstoppable, master! Theyve already destroyed through three of our defense lines! Their Wizard is an ultimate destroyer!"

Cedric stopped on his heels. "They already broke through three defensive lines?!"

Pratchet nodded nervously.  "Yes, masterand that is only three of them!"

Cedric continued walking. This was truly unlooked for! His guild was caught unguarded by three intruders! For some reason, Recias words came back to him.

"A Guild War with Firnheild!"

"Firnheild, Cedric! Firnheild is no ordinary guild!"

"Firnheild may lack Wizards, but their warriors are the best of the best!"

And who was this Wizard with Altair and Signy? A new guildsman? It was impossibleGeffen did not send any of its students to Firnheild. Calchas, the new High Elder, said it was enough that Firnheild destroyed their only pride, Nerva alThor. He would not give them any more of his students. The new Elder maintained that Firnheild should have taken steps to prevent Nervas death. He also said that hed allow his Wizard students to join Firnheild if and only if Wealthow could Resurrect the dead hero.

"Damn you, Altair!" Cedric hissed through gritted teeth.

Then he remembered something. He stopped dead and changed his direction. He was going straight to Recias room.

Altair came for his sister, didnt he? Very well, hell get his sister backthe only difference is, his sister is no longer alive. Cedric will make sure of that.

"FROST NOVA!"

Powerful magic erupted in the whole Council Hall like a storm of ghosts. Everything standing in the Frost Novas path was frozen in a flash. In the blink of an eye, the whole room turned from a Council Hall and into an Ice Museum filled with icy statues of attacking Knights, Hunters, Wizards, Assassins, Swordsmen, Magicians and Archers.

"Haahhaahhaah"

A drop of sweat fell from Nervas chin and onto the floor, where it froze immediately. Nerva looked around at his work. Every single attacker was frozen solid; none escaped. It had been so long since he fought like thisSwastika was alive thenhe was still alive then.

But wasnt he alive right now?

Altair walked up to him and had an arm around his shoulder.

"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.  "You dont like it?"

Altair shook his head, panting.  "NoI just didnt thinkyou could be this scary."

"By which you mean?" he asked.

"You were never like this, Nerva." Altair whispered.  "You were nevervirulent. What is happening to you, Nerva?"

He shrugged off Altairs hand.  "Nothings happening to me. Ive always been like this. The Nerva you met six years ago was fresh from his traumathis Nerva you have now is the real him. Get used to me, Altair."

But deep inside him Altair knew this was NOT the Nerva he knew. This Wizard before him was nowhere near the Nerva he met back there in Geffen Tower, lying in induced sleep, maintaining his innocence

Something was definitely wrong

Signy joined them soon enough. Her face was flushed.

"Any idea on where they keep your sister?" she asked Altair.  "We cant go on forever searching every nook and cranny of this place!"

"Altair ThorneI can see you alive and well!"

Altair, Nerva and Signy spun around. Cedric Hawke was there, standing not far from them, Lilian in his arms. In his right hand he clutched Heavens Blade, and to Altairs horror its blade was against his sisters neck.

"LILIAN!"

Lilian was crying as she tried in vain to free herself from Cedrics grip. Meanwhile the latter held her like a common rag doll which he could destroy anytime he wished. It was dangerous to approach them, Nerva and Signy knew this.

"LET GO OF MY SISTER, HAWKE!" Altair yelled.  "YOU ALREADY HAVE HEAVENS BLADE!"

"Really, I have the sword." Cedric smiled.  "BUT, DAMN YOU, IT ISNT WORKING!"

Just then, a female Knight skidded into the room. She was very beautiful, but she was sporting a bloody nose. She eyes Cedric with the utmost loathing, her lance in her hands. Altair immediately recognized that lance. Didnt he forge it when he was eighteen?

"LET THE GIRL GO, CEDRIC! YOURE MAD!" the Knight yelled.

Cedric transferred his gaze to his own sister. His expression became sad and wistful.

"So youre against me now as well, dear Recia?" he said.  "I understand. Youve never loved me as your brother. You always saw me as a monster, did you not? You think I am mad, but I am not. Dear Recia, why are you doing this to me? I am your brother."

Recias face was resolute. "I have no brother! My brother died ages ago! Youre a monster! Youre mad! I want to help you, Cedric, but youre beyond my reach! Let the girl go!"

Cedrics face gave way to an ugly frown.

"So youre all against me!" he yelled.  "I will not give you this girl! She shall die first before you can take her!"

"HELP ME!" Lilian cried.  "I DONT WANT TO DIE!"

Altair was itching to dive straight at Cedric and beat him up, but it was too dangerous.

Nerva had a plan. He started to inch away very carefully while Recia, Altair and Signy were busy negotiating with Cedric. He found a hidden stairway that passed behind the wall Cedric was standing closest to. He sneaked silently into it, hoping that his plan would stand a chance.

 He felt himself smile. He was so used to all kinds of castles. Knights castles were basically the same types. Secret passages, spiral staircases and hidden doors. Each hidden place could be used for an appropriate strategy. Nerva was suddenly thankful that he had been born an Izludian. His knowledge of castles was finally put to use this time.

"ILL KILL THIS GIRL INFRONT OF YOU!" Cedric shouted insanely, lifting Heavens Blade.  "WATCH HER DIE!"

"NOO!" Altair shouted, preparing to spring forward.

"ALTAIR, DONT!" Signy yelled.

"NO, CEDRIC! NO!" Recia shrieked.

Lilian screamed and shut her eyes as Heavens Blade came crashing down to her neck. But something else happened. The wall behind Cedric exploded with a crash, knocking him and Lilian forward.

Nerva was quick. He snatched Lilian from Cedric before the latter regained his senses. And when he did, he met Altairs clenched fists. Cedric fell backward and slammed his head against a candelabrum, knocking himself unconscious.

Lilian was sobbing tragically in Nervas arms.

"Lilian!" said Altair, turning to her.  "Oh my god, Lilian!"

"Brother!" Lilian cried as she hugged Altair. "I knew youd come for me!"

Nerva fell into a sitting position on the floor.  "Thats definitely a blast. Lets get outta here, shall we?"

"I agree!" Signy rolled her eyes.  "What a mess!"

Altair turned to Recia.  "Thank you"

Recia shook her head.  "It was nothing. It cant be helped. Im sorry for all of this Altair, and may I wish that you dont look at my guildsmen for my brothers mess. The Red Roses have always been proud people. But our period of glory is over, I am sure. Our guilds morale is damaged beyond repair because of this."

Signy stepped up.  "Youre all welcome to join us! Firnheild will be happy to welcome you!"

"I cant accept your offer" Recia refused gently.

But Altair kneeled before her.  "I want you to join our guild, please. On account for your helping us and taking care of Lilian! Please!"

Recia did not know what to do.  "But, Altair, you dont understand"

"This battles far from being over, Altair!"

Cedric stood up, Landmine detonator in his hand.

"If I cant have you and your sword, at least you shall die with me!"

He pressed the button.