Chapter 56
Jeanne opened her eyes, awakening to the morning that awaited her. Determined, she firmly grasped her armor and began putting it on, each piece fitting perfectly on her body. Completing the ritual of protection, her eyes fixated on the flag and sword resting at her waist, ready to be wielded. With steady steps, Jeanne left behind the shelter that had embraced her and ventured into the outside world.
Outside, soldiers were in a frenzy, moving back and forth with urgency and determination. After all, an epic challenge awaited them. Jeanne made her way to the majestic wall, where Gilles was already engaged in a conversation with one of the soldiers. Their eyes met, and a discreet smile of recognition was exchanged.
"Good morning, everyone," greeted Jeanne, her voice resonating with a mix of courage and hope.
"Miss Jeanne, the barriers have already been put in place, and the trenches have been dug," reported Gilles, proud to describe the tasks accomplished by the soldiers, faithfully following Jeanne's instructions given the previous day.
"Everything is fine. I thank all of you," expressed Jeanne, gratitude overflowing in her words. She deeply felt that this time, no one would be left behind. Her mind teemed with strategies, while her confidence in her abilities grew stronger.
Suddenly, an anxious shout broke the air. A vigilant soldier at the entrances urgently pointed towards the horizon. Jeanne followed the gesture, and her eyes fixated on the imposing catapults approaching. It was a terrifying sight, with two of them being dragged by enemy soldiers. For a brief moment, she considered using cannons, but the distance made that option unfeasible.
But the enemy didn't stop there. Other directions also harbored imminent threats. Jeanne instinctively turned her gaze to where the soldier pointed again. Her heart raced as she glimpsed the arrival of more catapults, soldiers, and even enemy cavalry. The scale of the upcoming battle was formidable.
"All the men have been positioned at different points around the roads encircling Orleans," a soldier informed the commander, his eyes conveying the seriousness of the situation. Curious, the commander inquired, "Did you instruct them to be cautious on the roads? And did you assign soldiers to the rear guard?"
"Yes," replied the soldier, conveying confidence in his actions. He had meticulously followed the commander's orders, although he didn't fully understand the reason behind the sudden change in strategy.
The commander let out a heavy sigh, mingling resentment and relief in his words. "Jeanne d'Arc, you nearly led me to ruin. But now, I want to see how you'll fare." Conflicting emotions danced in his voice, revealing the latent tension he had experienced. If he hadn't altered the strategy, the outcome could have been catastrophic.
The imposing catapults were ready for action, their massive structures raised and the sinister stones positioned, awaiting the moment to be launched. Without warning, the stones were hurled with fury towards the city of Orleans, coming from all possible directions. The soldiers, stationed on the walls, were ready to flee to a safe location, their eyes wide and hearts pounding.
But then, Jeanne's courageous voice resonated throughout the city, breaking the tension-filled air. "Soldiers, fear not! God is with us!" Her words echoed like a trumpet of hope. No one knew how, but her voice spread rapidly, reaching even the farthest corners of Orleans. Just as doubt was beginning to settle in, the stones from the catapults advanced at high speed. Jeanne raised her flag, holding it in front of her face, leaning slightly to get closer to the insignia she held devotedly.
"Lord, protect us!" Jeanne whispered solemnly, raising the flag with determination. At the top of the flag, a golden light burst forth, enveloping the entire city of Orleans. The resounding notes of angelic music seemed to echo in the ears of every person present.
The soldiers, who had hesitated for a moment, were stunned by what they witnessed. A glimmer of hope ignited in their hearts, their gazes hardened, and their spirits filled with an indomitable will to fight.
"Soldiers, prepare the catapults and fire! Don't worry, the stones will surpass the barrier!" Jeanne proclaimed with a firm and determined voice. She had strategically positioned the catapults in the fort, anticipating every move of the enemy. The soldiers responded with a flurry of action, running frantically to skillfully and quickly arm the catapults.
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The commander, gazing at the golden barrier encompassing the entire perimeter of Orleans, muttered to himself, "So, it is truly true."
"My lord, what shall we do now? The witch has used her magic!" a soldier exclaimed, his voice filled with panic.
"What shall we do? Of course, we shall continue firing! Why are you standing there idle if you are not dead?" the commander responded, annoyed by the lack of action. In an impulsive gesture, he slapped the soldier's head, urging him to take immediate measures. He then ordered the catapults to be launched.
The projectile soared through the skies, and the other soldiers, on the roads surrounding Orleans, witnessing the commander's charge, followed suit, launching their own attacks with the catapults.
However, when the stones hit the golden barrier, something unimaginable happened. They simply disintegrated upon contact with the barrier, falling into harmless pieces. But the threat persisted, as a new wave of stones approached Orleans from every possible direction.
The soldiers within the walls of Orleans witnessed, in awe, the effectiveness of the golden barrier. The stones thrown by the enemies shattered impotently, leaving not even a scratch. Victory seemed within their reach. Renewed by this extraordinary feat, they redoubled their efforts, working with even greater determination. Soon, the catapults were ready to fire again, precisely aimed at the enemy.
"Soldiers, now!" Jeanne shouted, feeling exhaustion taking hold of her body but unwavering in her commitment to face any adversity that arose in her path.
The commander watched incredulously as the stones were launched from Orleans. A feeling of despair overcame him, the certainty that everything was lost taking root within him.
"This is impossible to work," muttered a nearby soldier, reflecting the commander's own despair. He himself had initially considered the golden barrier an impossibility, but now he was confronted with reality. His eyes widened in despair as he tried to process the dire situation he was in.
"Order the soldiers to move away from the catapults immediately!" the commander shouted in a mix of panic and urgency. The soldier, taken aback by the commander's palpable desperation, tried to obey, but it was too late. The stones fell upon the soldiers who had realized the imminent danger too late. Some were ruthlessly crushed, while others were lucky enough to escape by a hair's breadth. The catapults, at least where the commander was, remained intact, but in other parts of the city, luck did not smile so kindly.
The commander glared angrily at the crushed soldiers, his eyes filled with fury. Then his gaze turned to the city of Orleans, where, by a twist of fate or not, he locked eyes with Jeanne, standing tall atop the ramparts. Uncertain if it was an illusion, he contemplated Jeanne's imposing figure: her long golden hair shimmered even more intensely under the light of the golden barrier she had created, her blue eyes radiating unwavering determination and hope.
"Fire again!" the commander shouted, his voice filled with rage. The soldiers quickly rearmed the catapults that had luckily escaped unharmed from the previous stones.
"Soldiers! Readjust this catapult behind me, a bit to the left!" Jeanne exclaimed, her voice echoing with authority. This time, she was determined to hit the enemy catapults. The soldiers promptly obeyed her orders, moving the catapult to the new designated position.
"Étienne! Bring me information about the other directions so I can order the repositioning of our other catapults," Jeanne requested. Étienne nodded with determination and set off to gather the necessary information.
Jeanne felt her legs weaken, exhaustion taking hold of her body. She had to lean on the flag to remain standing. For a brief moment, the golden barrier wavered, catching the attention of the soldiers protected within Orleans. Their gaze turned to Jeanne, who struggled to stay upright, panting from the exertion.
"We have to help her!" a soldier exclaimed, ready to run towards Jeanne.
"No! Stay where you are, I won't fall!" Jeanne shouted with determination, strengthening her will. She mustered her strength, leaving the flag as a symbol of her resilience despite her trembling legs.
"The barrier disappeared for a moment? That means she can't sustain it indefinitely, right?" the commander observed, his expression alternating between hope and despair. "Hahahaha! Fire again! Bring more catapults! Now, act cunningly! Stay close to the trees and position yourselves strategically to fire without being hit by enemy stones! We will win, my men!" The commander almost jumped in ecstasy, believing in the imminent victory.
The soldiers, feeling the flame of hope and survival, moved swiftly to carry out the commander's orders. They agilely repositioned the catapults in less vulnerable locations, seeking to ensure their own protection.
"Quickly send someone to relay my orders to the soldiers on the other roads," the commander instructed a soldier by his side. The soldier immediately set off towards a horse, and it didn't take long for other soldiers to do the same, mounting their horses and carrying the instructions to their comrades on different routes.
"When do you plan to use what you've prepared, Jeanne?" the commander muttered, smiling maliciously. His hands trembled with nervousness as his fingers moved frantically. Meanwhile, the soldiers continued to relocate the catapults to strategic positions, seeking to avoid any vulnerability.
"I am eagerly awaiting this moment, and I only hope that you play like never before," the commander said, with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. He grew increasingly excited at the thought of how events would unfold. Furthermore, so far, only he had suffered losses in his army, and he deeply desired that Jeanne would also face defeat.
Jeanne, struggling to breathe but keeping her golden barrier active, noticed from afar that the English had changed tactics. They were strategically positioning their catapults in tree-filled areas, seeking protection against the impact of stones.
"The time has come to change our strategy," Jeanne said, propping herself up on her trembling legs. "Soldiers, prepare for the attack! Open the gates." Her voice, though weak, resounded with determination throughout the battlefield in Orleans. The soldiers recognized Jeanne's vulnerability, but they were ready to fight the English in close combat. Some mounted their horses, while others brandished spears and swords.
"Do not worry, God will assist us!" Jeanne gritted her teeth, her vision blurred and on the verge of fainting. However...
"Keep going... Keep going... This time, you will succeed... I will protect everyone..." a voice echoed in her mind, familiar yet mysterious. Jeanne couldn't identify the source, but her previously clouded eyes cleared once again. Grasping her sword at her waist, Jeanne, with her golden hair billowing, exuded an aura of courage.
"God will protect us!" With her sword raised, Jeanne seemed to transform into a pillar of light at the center of the battlefield. The barrier expanded rapidly, engulfing everything in a radiance that dazzled the eyes. The residents of Orleans and the soldiers, especially those close to Jeanne like Gilles, Étienne, Jean, and her uncle, could only catch a glimpse of a divine radiance emanating from the young warrior.
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"What is this?" the commander exclaimed, covering his eyes with his hand in an attempt to see what was happening. However, an instinct warned him that it would be regretful to look directly.
"Do not look! Cover your eyes!" he ordered the soldiers, fearing what might occur if they witnessed what was unfolding.
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"God, she truly is a divine servant," murmured King Charles of Chinon, marveling as he watched the majestic golden pillar of light. His eyes widened in surprise and devotion, understanding that God was using His saint to aid France in such dark times.
"This is impossible," whispered some clerics in the city, incredulous at what they were witnessing. However, others embraced belief and hope, while a division of opinions emerged. This situation would pose a challenge for Jeanne in the future, but for now, she needed to focus on the imminent battle.
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Rémy, riding his horse towards Argers, noticed an intense brightness behind him. Looking back, he saw a pillar of golden light radiating majestically.
"I see you're giving it your all, Jeanne. I will surpass myself as well!" Rémy exclaimed, letting out an excited laugh as he lightly tapped his horse.
"Let's go all out, my friend!" The horse surged forward, causing Rémy to hold on tightly to its neck as the horse's legs seemed to disappear in the speed it attained.
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