The king of dwelmeharen by Eliezer

The King of Dwelmeharen Ivan was a jolly man, normally. He was a big man, and usually had a smile on his face that ran from ear to ear. He had a roarious billowing laugh that would fill his hall with a noise like an avalanche. But today was different. The jolly ginger king that had a beard to his belly button had no smile today. His cheeks were not red from the consumption of his hand made dwarf ale, and there was no laughing. As he hurried down the corridor he murmured to himself, "No it can't be, not yet! Not now! He couldn't have broken the oath so soon, and just as my men were sent home for harvest!" As he passed through the halls of his palace, a small bald dwarf covered in tattoos stepped out of the shadows. He was a taller dwarf, with thick arms and a well built body, his arms and face were dotted with the scars from past battles, and his left eye socket was covered with an eye patch to keep infection out. He followed Ivan closely as they stepped through the doors and into the sunlight. "They have been outside for hours." The bald headed dwarf said. "They haven't done anything but stare at us Dwelmare. They are just trying to coax us into battle. And if it was up

to you they would succeed. " Ivan shouted over the roar of a sudden and powerful wind. "Ivan, you have grown ignorant since your victory at Brommel. Has the thought crossed your mind that maybe they are just staring at us because they are waiting for something. I advise you to call in your forces. If they were here, we could have a battle ready army by tomorrow. " " I know I know. Alright. Send my courier to the house of every warrior in my kingdom: Be here tomorrow, or face death on the grounds of cowardice. " Ivan shouted knowing his men would hate him for cutting there well deserved holiday a month and a half short. "What about us?” a small fair haired boy with a well built body and dark thunderous eyes spoke up from behind one of the three banners that sat on the perch that Ivan and Dwelmare were standing. “ What if they attack before our forces get here? Dad are we gonna die? I don’t want to die I want to live. ” the boy screamed as he worked himself into an uncontrollable fit of fear. “ Son nothing is going to happen now go back inside and train, one day the king will call on you like he is calling on his warriors today, and when that day comes you will need to

be ready. So go train and let the king have some peace. He is very stressed at the moment.” Dwelmare said firmly in a soft voice that made the child feel loved. “But father...” The boy stammered before being cut off. “Welamere, now, or I will make you eat with the dogs tonight.” Dwelmare shouted at his son. “ Yes dad.” Welamere said as he shuffled away to the castle to continue his training. “Oh come now Dwelmare, the boy is scared, can’t you see? Let him come and here our talk, he will need to know if he is to be the next kings assistant.” Ivan said as he ushered the boy back to him. “Ohh yay!” the boy exclaimed as he ran back to the king who was waiting for him with open arms. The boy was just jumping into the kings arms as blood splattered the kings face, and the boys limp body landed in his hands, a long stick protruding out of his skull like a tree from the ground, and a razor sharp metal object slicing a shallow gash across the kings eye. “ Noooooo!” Dwelmare shouted as he took the limp, lifeless body of his son from his king, tears rolling down his face. “ You fiends, you know not what you did, you have just

unleashed hell, and the demons within its bosom will fall over you like the waves of the Zhuf.” He yelled as he laid the lifeless corpse of his son on the ground, as gently as if he was laying a baby down for a nap. After he laid his son on the ground at his feet, Dwelmare pulled his sword from its hilt, and ran it down the length of his palm. “I swear to the gods that the army who has taken my son from me will pay dearly, in men, in riches, and in the burning of their homes, each and every one of them will die!” “Dwelmare,” Ivan said in a kind but firm voice, “You will have your revenge, but you will wait until our army is battle ready. And you will wait for my signal to attack, do I make myself clear?” “Yes king.” Dwelmare seethed through clenched and grinding teeth, as he wrapped his hand in a torn off piece of his shirt. “I believe that we cannot wait for our army to arrive. Assemble my personal guard Dwelmare.” Ivan said as he held his eye and winced in pain as blood seeped through the cracks in his fingers. “Place them at the wall, and as soldiers arrive, feed them, then tell them to prepare for battle. All archers

are to go straight to the wall, they will have food brought to them. If you or anyone else needs me, I will be bathing, and preparing for battle. Dwelmare I love you like a brother, and what happened today was terrible, but revenge can wait until the lives of the women and children of my realm are safe from the danger that is lurking outside this cities gates.” He said as he took a deep breath, turned and went inside still clutching his bleeding eye. As the sun set, and the beautiful shades of pink and red filled the sky, Ivans army arrived. Just a trickle at first, a few dozen men every hour, but that trickle quickly turned into a raging river as groups of hundreds arrived every couple of minutes. As Ivan stood in his chambers, which like the royal robe he now wore, was all purple. He watching as his army readied the defenses, and prepared for battle, he could not forgive himself. That little boy is dead, because of me! He thought to himself. I knew they would try to kill me, I should have gone inside, but instead I let my anger get the best of me. Stupid, stu a knock on the door tore him from his thoughts. “ What do you want?” Ivan yelled as tore his wandering eyes away from the window. “It’s Dwelmare sir, may I come in?” the voice on the

other side of the door yelled back.” “Oh good, come in, come in.” Ivan said as he rushed to the door and flung it open. As Dwelmare walked in, he closed the door behind him. “Your grace,” He began, “The men are ready, the defenses are prepared, and all are here. The archers are at their posts, and your guard will be back to you after they have eaten. Is there anything” He was cut off by a loud and rapid knocking on the door. As Dwelmare opened it, it creaked on it’s hinges, and a small man stood on the other side. He was dressed in all white armor is sword was out of it’s sheath, as he pulled the sword in his hand, the guard behind him fell to the ground with a crash. “Hello Ivan,” The short man stepped within the velvety room. “I see you acquired a taste for the expensive in your short time as king.” He said as he slowly motioned to the giant oil paintings on the wall. “None of these were here when I was king. I also see that you have grown fat and slow in your years of luxury. Maybe you should lose a few pounds.” He spat as he stepped into the light. He was small, maybe 5’6”, his all white armor gleamed in the torchlight of the room. His hands were gloved. He strode in circles around the room.

“Marcus; How did you get in here? wh what do you want?” Ivan blubbered as he coward behind Dwelmare who’s sword was raised. “What, can’t a man come and visit his little brother?” Marcus chuckled as he slowly walked around the room, “ My, these pictures are nice,possibly one of a kind, sure would be a shame if they were ripped!” He cackled as he swung his sword at one of the paintings, ripping it in half. “How did you get in here?” Ivan asked as he slowly backed into a corner. “Do you not remember playing in this castle as little kids? The sewers. Remember we found a way from the castle to the fields. It was our first adventure. I thought you would at least remember the times we had before you thought you were crazy.” Marcus spat at his brother as he remembered all the good time they had as kids. “I didn’t think you were crazy, that was father. I knew you were sane, but when father offered me the throne I had to take it.” Ivan said as he slowly crept out of the corner and closer to his brother. “I lifted your exile, and sent men to find you and bring you back, but they could not find you. I beg you brother, call off your army, come back, and be my

counselor, I will give you land, and gold, and” He said before he was interrupted. “Do not think that your gold can buy me. I spent years trying to rebuild a life, and now that I have, I will take back my kingdom.” Marcus shouted as he gripped the hilt of his sword. “Were you the one who gave the order to fire that arrow?” Dwelmare asked as he stepped in front of Marcus,inturrupting his train of thought, “It is your army out there, they follow you.” Dwelmare accused. “That arrow, the one you meant for your brother, it killed my son, You killed my one and only son over a petty birthright.” Dwelmare shouted as tears streamed down his face. Dwelmare pulled his axe from it’s resting place on his back, and charged the white clad knight. As Dwelmare got within striking range, Marcus pulled the sword from it’s hilt, and in one fluid motion slashed at Dwelmare’s throat, stabbed at his heart, and stepped out of the way of the bloody corpse that was careening at him, unable to stop. Dwelmare’s bloody and battered corpse slammed into Ivan’s king sized drawers with enough speed to break it in half with a splintering crash. “Tisk. That was anticlimactic.” Marcus mused as he

circled Ivan with his sword still drawn. “Now it’s just you and me brother, and I always won, even when you were skinny and fast.” He joked twirling his sword in a show of physical prowess, and strength. “Here, you can fight with this.” He slid a fire iron towards his brother. “It will suit you for the short battle that will ensue. ”What you don’t know, Marcus is that I have been practicing, and I am totally prepared to defeat you here, take your head, and plant it on a stake.” Ivan said as he prepared for battle. “Let it begin!” Marcus said as he sliced toward his brothers throat. Ivan blocked and countered with a swift leg sweep that he followed up with a slicing motion that cut Marcus right under his throat. Marcus sprawled to his feet, and sliced at Ivan, who blocked, parried, and stabbed at his brother’s heart. The shot bounced off Marcus’s bright white armor, and flew right, cutting his arm in the process. Marcus’s retreated a few steps, looking at his wounds before switching his sword hand and advancing on his brother again. Ivan advanced as well, swinging the fire iron hard, knocking the sword out of Marcus’s hand. He followed the blow with a strong leg kick that toppled Marcus. Ivan stood over his brother’s Bleeding body, reached down

and picked up his sword. “I used to love you like a brother, but I have to kill you. I know you Marcus you’ll just come back. So I’ll see you in the afterlife.” and with that Ivan cut off Marcus’s head, and the kings chamber was stained with royal blood.