Reclaiming the Throne

The sun was high in the sky, shining with its usual brilliance. There were no clouds in the sky, the calm weather a contrast to the emotions of the knight who rode on his white war horse through the forest. The knight was clad in red armor which was clean and freshly polished.

The reason for the internal turmoil of the knight was his return to his home. The red knight, and the man who rode beside him, had been away from the kingdom for many years. They traveled to distant lands, training to become better fighters. The two of them were ready to come back to Marinelle, the knight in red as the prince.

The two riders came to the edge of the forest and the red knight brought them to a halt. He lifted the visor of his helmet and looked at his companion, a puzzled look on his chocolate-toned face.

“John, what’s going on here? That banner isn’t flying my family crest, but someone else’s.”

“I don’t know, Prince Lionel. Maybe when we get to the village, we can get some more information.”

A knight in shining red armor was a rare occurrence, so the two of them were approached by people from the village before they even reached the town. There were lots of murmurs and whispered questions until an older woman, who must have been one of the elders, approached the two riders through the parting sea of people.

“And who might you two strangers be?” the old woman asked in a raspy voice.

“Good afternoon, Madam. I am Prince Lionel Logan, and this is my companion, John Biggs.” At the mention of their names, the volume of the crowd jumped from murmuring to excited talking. The old woman knelt on the ground in front of Lionel, followed by the rest of the crowd.

“Please, as my elder, you do not need to kneel before me. Instead, you can explain to us why the Logan family crest isn’t flying above the village.”

“Thank you for your kind words, my prince,” the woman said in response. “I would be honored to have the two of you as guests in my home so that you can rest and hear what has happened since you left on your journey.”

Lionel and John followed the old woman, whose name was Jaina, through the village. After leaving their horses tied to a post, they entered her home. It was a modest hut, but from the cleanliness of the place, they could tell the woman took pride in it. Water was brought for the three of them as they sat at the table.

“I guess the story starts about two years ago. Your uncle, King James, fell ill and died. Since he had no children, you were the heir to the Marinelle throne. However, you were away on your travels, and no one knew how to get word to you. While we awaited your return, a knight clad in black armor appeared with a small army. His name was Aaron Veers, but he was better known as the Dread Knight Unstoppable Aaron. He announced his arrival by burning a burning one of the villages, and vowing to kill any who stood before him. After a battle that lasted three days, Unstoppable Aaron took the throne and proclaimed himself the new Lord. His rule has been marked by tyranny, and the people of this kingdom have been hoping for this day when you would return and free us from his evil.”

John Biggs ran his fingers through his blonde hair and looked over at Lionel. “So what do you want to do, Prince? I know you want to fight for your kingdom, but you can’t just go knock on the castle door and ask that he leave.”

“You’re right, John, I do want to fight, but I have to use the proper strategy. I think a frontal assault would be good in this case. But first, we have to draw him out.”

Lionel then looked over at Jaina. “Ma’am, do you know of any place where we can spend the night?”

“I would be honored if you stayed here with me, your Highness. I can prepare accommodations for you at once.” Lionel and John both thanked the old woman. A knock on the door stopped them from saying anything further.

John stood up and went to open the door. A woman stood there, backlit by the sunlight. The dark green and brown colors of her clothing were a pleasant contrast against her light-brown skin. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. A quiver of arrows and a bow were on her back. Even after being away for many years, Lionel recognized his childhood friend immediately.

“Aayla!” he exclaimed, standing up quickly. She moved into the hut with athletic grace.

“I heard you were back. I had to come see for myself,” she responded.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Yeah, it has.”

“You don’t look much different, though, Aayla.”

“Too bad I can’t say the same about you, Lionel. You aren’t the same skinny little boy that used to chase me around.” The two of them stood there, looking at each other, when John broke the moment with a light cough.

“Perhaps the two of you would like to catch up with each other,” he said, a smirk on his face. “I can stay here and help our gracious hostess get things ready for our stay.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Lionel said, nodding his head. He gestured towards the door and followed Aayla out. The sky was no longer clear and serene. Clouds had formed and occasionally drifted across the sun. A chill wind would blow intermittently. Lionel and Aayla walked around, talking about their childhood memories.

“Remember that time we tried to catch that frog at the creek?” Aayla asked.

“I remember you not wanting to touch it.”

“I was just a little girl then. Times change.”

“They certainly do,” Lionel said. This caused Aayla to blush a little. The two of them walked on in an awkward silence, which was thankfully broken by one of the village children running up to them telling them that the dinner at Jaina’s was ready.

Lionel, John, Aayla, and Jaina sat at the table, eating the dinner of roasted chicken and carrots and coming up with a plan. “First, we are going to have to gather our forces. Aayla, do you think the people will fight?” Lionel asked.

“If you lead them, yes. Many of us have been waiting for you to return, and will gladly follow you into battle.”

“Lionel, while it’ll be great to have the people in the villages behind us, we’ll also have to do something to make Aaron want to fight us,” John chimed in.

“You’re right, and I think I have a plan for that, too.”

The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon when Lionel and John got up to begin their plan. While Aayla and Jaina went around quietly recruiting people to fight, the two knights were going to be doing other things.

The chance to start their plan came quickly. The weather had worsened and it was now raining, the water falling in heavy drops. The two knights felt the steady patter of the rain hitting their armor as they walked through a path in the forest. When they came around a bend, they went off into the bushes by the side of the road and waited.

The previous night, they learned that this road was a regular patrol route for some of Aaron’s soldiers, and it wasn’t long before it was proven true. Two soldiers dressed in silver armor and bearing the black dragon symbol of Unstoppable Aaron came walking down the road. As soon as they reached the turn, Lionel and John quickly jumped out, swords brandished. Aaron’s soldiers were caught by surprise and before they could unsheathe their swords, Lionel and John were upon them.

“Don’t even think about trying to get those swords out. The moment your hand touches the handle, it’ll get cut off,” John said.

“Slowly unbuckle them and throw them on the ground,” Lionel commanded.

“Do you know who we are? Do you know who you are messing with?” the soldier on the left asked.

“Yes, we know who you are. The swords,” Lionel replied, gesturing with his blade. He kept his eyes on the men as they followed his command.

“Now, take off the armor and leave that on the ground as well,” John said. The two soldiers looked at each other in surprise.

“Are you serious? Who do you think you are?” the soldier on the right blurted out.

“You can go back and tell your cowardly master that the rightful heir to that castle, Lionel Logan, is here and, with his sword Perfection, ready to take back what’s his,” Lionel said.

It took the soldiers a while to take off the chain armor they wore. The two of them stood there in their underclothes, arms across their torsos and shivering from the rain.

“Now go back to your Master with my message,” Lionel said to them. He smacked the soldier in front of him on the leg with the flat of his sword. The two soldiers turned around and scurried off in the rain, mud clinging to their shoes. Lionel and John picked up the armor and swords off the ground and began walking back to the village.

*****

“They said WHAT????” Aaron bellowed. He quickly jumped up from the throne. The long black robe he wore reached the floor, and enhanced the menace emanating from him. He towered over his messenger, his angry brown face bent forward and his eyes wide with rage.

“Ummm, my l-l-l-lord, apparently, Lionel has told people that h-h-h-here in the castle, you prepare the t-t-t-tea for your wife.” The messenger pulled his head down as if he were a turtle trying to retreat into his shell.

“So, this boy attacks my men, and seeks to emasculate me?! ME?! Does he know who I am? I am Unstoppable Aaron!” Aaron lifted his hand to strike the innocent man as his words echoed around the stone room.

“Please, my liege, calm yourself. He is just the messenger.” These words came from the man standing behind the throne. He was thin and stood at average height. His eyes were brown and constantly squinted, as if he were always concentrating on something.

Aaron turned to the side and took a step but stopped. At his feet sat a brown puppy. Aaron lifted his foot and kicked the animal out of his way. The dog landed a few feet away with a loud yelp. Aaron paid it no mind as he started pacing in front of his throne.

“So what do you think I should do, Kell?” Aaron asked his advisor.

“This Lionel, rightful heir or not, can‘t do anything without the support of the villages. Punish them, and they will drive him away for us.”

“Yes, Kell, that is an excellent idea. ”

Aaron looked at his messenger. “Send my men out to one of the villages and burn it to the ground.”

The man nodded and ran off to deliver Aaron’s message. “I will teach that young whelp why they call me Unstoppable Aaron,” he said aloud, to no one in particular.

*****

Lionel, John, and Aayla rode up to the village on their horses and stopped, shocked at the sight. The huts were all afire, and people were running around, screaming and crying. They could see a few of Aaron’s men ruthlessly killing anyone who tried to defend the village. Lionel quickly hopped off his horse and drew his sword, John and Aayla right behind him.

With a roar, Lionel charged at one of the evil knights. The man had just enough time to get his sword up before Lionel’s swing reached him. The two swords clanged and vibrated from the contact. As Lionel pressed forward with the attack, swinging his sword and looking for a hole in the man’s defense, he saw John a few feet from him, in the middle of a fight with another of Aaron’s men. Lionel’s opponent kept stepping back, barely able to stay ahead of Lionel’s attacks. Lionel faked his sword to his right. When his opponent moved in response to defend against the blow that didn’t come, Lionel kicked out with his left foot, planting it squarely in the chest of the man’s armor. The opposing knight fell, landing on his back. Lionel aimed the sword down and stabbed it through the man’s chest, ending the fight.

As he pulled his sword out, he felt the rush of air as something flew by his head. He looked up and saw another of Aaron’s men falling to the ground, an arrow lodged in his chest. Lionel looked back and saw Aayla smiling at him.

“Someone’s got to look out for you,” she called out to him.

“I thought that was my job,” John said, standing over his fallen opponent.

“Do you want to be the one to tell her no?” Lionel asked, a smile on his face.

“Hmm, good point.”

“Well, John, it looks like we might have gotten Aaron’s attention.”

“Yeah, but we need to keep at it until we can assemble our army. The villagers are spreading the word, but it will take a while.”

“Let’s just hope Aaron doesn’t slaughter all of the villages before we are ready,” Aayla said.

“That’s why we’ll be here to stop him,” Lionel said.

*****

“These two men have been judged guilty of conspiring against our King Aaron Veers. As such, they have been sentenced to death by beheading!” The announcer stepped down off the small platform that was being used for the execution stand. In front of him, two men were kneeling, their hands tied behind their backs and their heads resting on wooden blocks. Standing over them was the executioner, his head covered in a black hood.

The platform was surrounded by about fifty of Aaron’s men. They were all wearing black armor and had their swords drawn, waiting for someone to try to interrupt the proceedings. Clouds filled the sky, blocking out the sun and chilling the air.

In the crowd, Lionel and John stood listening to the announcer. They were wearing simple clothes to blend into the crowd.

“We should do something,” Lionel said.

“This is not the time, prince,” John replied. “If we act now, we will be badly outnumbered, and probably die. What will happen to Marinelle then?”

“But I don’t like standing here and doing nothing.”

“I know that, and that’s also what Aaron is counting on. Besides these men here, there are probably more waiting for a fight to break out.”

“You are right, of course,” Lionel said with a sigh. “I need to be patient and wait for the right time to strike.”

“Aayla is out getting the villagers ready, but we still need a little more time.”

On the platform, the executioner had lifted his axe above his head. He swung hard, bringing the axe down with precision and removing the head of the victim. The crowd let out a collective gasp. The head landed in a basket placed in front of the wooden block, the eyes frozen in a stare at the sky. The executioner then moved over and repeated the process with the second man. With his job complete, the executioner stepped down off the platform, and the announcer took his place.

“King Aaron has declared that any person found rebelling against him will be executed, and their families billed for the use of the axe.” A chorus of shouts and boos following him, the announcer stepped down and, with the soldiers guarding him, left the area.

“Let’s get out of here, Lionel.”

“Yes. And we will continue to hit Aaron where it hurts.”

*****

Aaron sat in the grand hall, eating his dinner of roasted pig, cheese and bread. A goblet of wine sat next to his plate. His guards were standing behind him when the messenger walked in, looking distressed.

“My lord, I h-h-have more news for you.”

“What is it?” Aaron replied, putting his fork and knife down.

“It s-s-seems as if Lionel and his man J-j-john, aided by a few others, a-a-attacked one of your coaches carrying gold to the castle.”

“Seems? Well, did it happen, or didn’t it?” Aaron asked, the calm in his voice belying the fire in his eyes.

“Y-y-yes, my liege. It did happen.”

With a loud yell, Aaron punched the messenger in the face, sending blood gushing from the man’s nose.

“Why hasn’t this insolent dog been stopped yet?” Aaron yelled.

“My king, I have a thought,” Kell said, walking into the hall. He gestured for the guards to drag the messenger away.

“What is it, Kell?”

“Perhaps a more direct approach is in order. Maybe what this situation needs is you.”

“What do you mean? You are the one who suggested hurting the villagers.”

“Well, I seem to have miscalculated the resolve of the villagers, now that Lionel is back.”

“There goes that word ‘seem’ again,” Aaron said, glaring at Kell.

Kell took a moment before responding. “Yes, well, I suggest gathering your army. If you defeat Lionel face-to-face, and beat anyone he assembles against you, there will be no disputing your place on the throne.”

Aaron rubbed his chin in thought. “You speak wisely, Kell. Spread the word. I want my soldiers assembled here at the castle in one week’s time.” He waved Kell away and went back to eating his meal.

*****

The day for the battle arrived. The sun hovered in the sky, warming the air. The scent of grass and flowers could be inhaled with every breath. On the field, the two armies lined up in ranks, facing each other. Lionel, John, and Aayla rode to the front of their army on their horses. They dismounted and Aayla lifted Lionel‘s visor to give him a kiss on the cheek before going off to lead the archers.

“Good luck, Lionel. I know you can do it,” she whispered into his ear. Lionel smiled at her before turning to John.

“From what I’ve heard, Aaron has no real style or technique. He just uses his strength. Remember your training,” John said. He extended his hand and placed it on Lionel’s armored shoulder.

“Thank you, my friend,” Lionel replied. He patted John’s hand before turning and walking towards the center of his army‘s line. Lionel placed his hand on the handle of his sword.

“My friend, you’ve served me well these years I’ve had you. You are Perfection, and I know you will see me through,” he whispered.

The villagers stood as Lionel faced them, waiting for his command.

“Today, my friends, I stand before you as a leader. Many of you lived under my uncle’s rule, and it honors me to know that you are willing to fight by my side. With your help, we will kick this usurper off the throne and return peace to Marinelle!” The villagers cheered, banging their swords against their shields. Lionel turned towards the opposing army and pulled his visor down. “CHARGE!!” he yelled.

The two armies ran towards each other, the earth trembling from the footsteps. They met with a clash of steel on steel. Arrows flew through the air as archers from both sides rained death upon their enemies.

Lionel fought ferociously, with John never far from his side. With their years of training as aid, they quickly established a mutual defense, fighting back any enemy that came at them.

As the fight wore on, Lionel spotted Aaron through the crowd. Without warning, he ran towards the black-clad knight. Aaron saw him approaching and quickly stabbed his current opponent with his sword before getting ready to meet Lionel.

“I am Lionel Logan, rightful heir to the throne of Marinelle. I come to take back what’s mine from the coward who stole it from my family,” he announced in his loudest voice. Lionel held his sword in both hands out in front of him, ready to pounce.

“I am the Dread Knight Unstoppable Aaron. Many men have tried to conquer me, and they all failed. If you want to add your name to that list, I will be happy to oblige you.” Aaron held his blade to the side in his right hand, and gestured with the left for Lionel to come get him.

Lionel bellowed a war cry and charged, sword ready. He reached Aaron and swung. Aaron brought his sword down and deflected the attack. The clang of the swords as they met rang in the air. The force of the blow sent vibrations up Lionel’s arms. He was barely able to bring his sword back up as Aaron continued through his swing and brought his sword back around, aimed at Lionel’s waist. Aaron’s superior strength kept him on the attack, constantly probing at Lionel’s defense, looking for a weakness. The two knights fought furiously, the sounds of their swords meeting sending a song of battle into the air.

Lionel swung his sword in an overhead arc, bringing it down towards Aaron’s head. The knight in black blocked the potentially deadly blow. Lionel took a step forward, coming visor-to-visor with Aaron, their swords pressed between them.

“I saw your woman kiss you before we started,” Aaron said to Lionel. “When I win the fight, I will delight in making her a servant in the castle.”

Lionel roared and pushed with all his strength. As Aaron stumbled, Lionel began swinging at him, beating him back with a flurry of controlled attacks. Aaron blocked each blow, but his defense became slower with each hit. It was a matter of time before Lionel broke his defense.

Lionel faked an attack to Aaron’s left, and the black knight fell for it. As Aaron moved his sword to block the fake attack, Lionel brought his sword down on Aaron’s wrist. Perfection cut all the way through, cleaving off Aaron’s right hand. Blood began to spurt out as Aaron’s sword dropped to the ground, still clutched in the enclosed fist. Aaron bellowed out in pain and dropped to his knees. Lionel pulled off his helmet and stood over his opponent, the sweat glistening on his face. All around them, the battle seemed to stop as both armies watched to see what happened.

“End it right now,” Aaron said, panting from the pain. He was holding his bloody stump against his chest. “Let me die as a warrior.”

Lionel looked Aaron in his eyes. “No. Without your sword hand, you’ll never harm anyone again. I’d rather you live in shame than die with honor.” Lionel sheathed Perfection and then reached down to pick up Aaron’s detached hand. Prying the fingers apart, he lifted Aaron’s sword in his right hand, and his opponent’s hand in the other. The crowd cheered, happy that the Logan family was back in power.