Writetober Day 15 (Helmet)

Day 15

Helmet

“Ears to me!”  Elryk’s voice boomed from atop his horse.  “Look at them!  Search for their eyes!”  He pointed his sword across the open field.  “They don’t fear you!”  He galloped down the line of metal clad soldiers.  “Should they!?”

The mass of men roared in response to the knight’s words.

“They think they can come on our lands and take what they want!  What say you!?”

The sea of grey and red roared violently as swords and shields collided in an orchestra of defiance.

Elryk smirked beneath his metal helmet.  “Today we fight!  Today we die!  Today we win!”  Elryk kicked the ribs of the beast between his legs.  “For the Queen!”

The earth trembled as the ferocious soldiers behind Elryk followed the man into battle.

Elryk’s eyes widened in excitement as the opposing army began their rush toward him.  For the Queen.  Elryk forced the horse to gather more speed, with a final flash over his shoulder, he watched the men follow him with unwavering loyalty.

“I’ll see you after this.”  Elryk’s gauntlet patted the side of his mare’s neck.  His muscles coiled and tightened as he searched for his landing spot.  There.  With all the effort he was able to muster, Elryk threw himself off his horse and collided into three archers that were unfortunate enough to be close enough to him.

For a brief moment, fear tore through Elryk as the sounds of bones snapping echoed within his armor.  But they weren’t his, the screams from the men he landed on answered that.

“Barbarian filth!”  

Elryk turned in time to meet the blow from the soldier that reached him.  His breastplate creaked as the mace collided with his chest.

Broken rib.  The pain lanced through his legs as the air was torn from his lungs.

“You will die for nothing!”  The attacker spat into the air as he heaved another blow into Elryk.

Elryk crumpled into the dirt as the army’s collided all around him.  It was a breath he needed, all around him a storm of flashing metal and spurting blood erupted.  Get up!  Elryk rose to his knees as his attacker was lost in the torrent of bodies that threw themselves at one another.

“My lord!  Take my blade.”  The man frantically ran toward Elryk with his weapon extended.

The whistle was too quiet for anyone to hear as an arrow buried itself into the man’s unprotected face.  Elryk finished his soldier’s job as he took the weapon from the dead man.  

For the Queen.  He ignored the pain that ripped at him with every breath.  

“Oye!  Maggot!”

The blow came before Elryk could find the voice.  Black swam across Elryk’s eyes as his helmet buckled from the strike.  A second impact ripped his helmet from him as blistering white swarmed and replaced the black in his vision.

The trampled dirt caught his limp body as the world around him disappeared.

“Get up lordling!”

The voice was far in the distance of Elryk’s ears.  

“You’re the best that bitch of a queen has?!”

The sounds of battle filled Elryk’s senses once more as he regained his bearing…slowly.

“Get up!  Die like a man!”

He’s toying with you…get up…  Elryk’s body protested with every movement and breath.  Make him regret not killing you.

Elryk dug within the reserves of his strength as he stood and faced the champion.  The sun was hot on his exposed face.  Better than not having a head…

“Let’s go piss ant!”

Elryk absorbed his surroundings as he noticed the battle had slowed, no, stopped.  Both armies had circled the two men, the victor was to decide the battles fate.

The champion charged with his mace in hand.  Elryk knew he couldn’t win with strength, let alone without a weapon.  He blocked his face as the mace clattered off his forearms.  He ignored the crack that shivered from his bones.  A second strike collided with his gut, a third, a fourth…

Elryk dropped to a knee as the champion connected his fifth attack to his ribs, blood coughed from his mouth.  Win, damnit.

The champion raised his heavy mace high above his head for a final blow.  Elryk’s mind raced as he tried to focus on anything but pain.  His metal covered fist moved before he knew where it was going to go, but it found its home.

The champion roared in pain as Elryk rocketed his club like gauntlet into his groin.  He didn’t stop, Elryk pulled back and slammed another strike into the soft and tender portions of the man’s groin.  The champion shrieked as he toppled over in pain.

Elryk staggered as he hastily reached for the nearest object.  With his helmet in hand, he mounted the fallen giant and released a torrent of blows into his face.  The helmet in his hand smashed into its target until it was coated in red.

Elryk threw the helmet and collapsed atop the dead champion.  He closed his eyes as his men, the men that trusted him without question, erupted in cheer.