19 Chapter 19:

The Knights of the Vale that had united against the Mountain Tribes had found a semblance of normalcy throughout their time in the mountains together.

And while most of the things they had to set up where more of a necessity in terms of managing a small army, there are a few things that stood out above all else.

Mainly maintaining the cleanliness and order of the camp. Many set it aside as more to their leaders force of habit that continue to baffle them when he tuggs at their armors and even correct pieces of armor that were placed losely, and even does them personally. Still, dirt in their camps were more of a norm, specially for a constantly moving army like theirs.

Over time this became the routine. And despite their leaders quirks like his tendency to go on a tangent of mumbles when assessing tactics and even planning for the future attacks. Most of them aren't complaining as his questions were valid despite bordering on paranoia.

Then they were ordered to teach and show their squires how to clean their armors. To educate their squires on battle tactics and even talking to them after battles, giving praise when due and admonishing them when needed.

It wasn't far from what they normally did when it came to squiring but this time they weren't allowed to to laze about if their squire's weren't. They had to lead by example, it was an interesting concept and yet fighting alongside their leader for several battles now had allowed them to adjust, and reasoned that it was is his price for their service.

They are after all placing everything on his shoulders. So they followed his lead.

No one is allowed to touch the recuees. The recent incident that flowed through word of mouth was enough to caution the men.

The supplies are managed by certain individuals and no one else.

They have to follow the commands of their superior or be punished for insubordination. And frighteningly enough, he would punish anyone, highborn or no. Their leader couldn't care less.

But for the short time they had known their leader, there is one thing they had learned to do. And that is to step the fuck out of his way the moment his eyes began to glow blue.

Seeing Arthas march with a stone cold face, glowing blue eyes and fist cleanched...they all knew that someone had fucked up. And fucked up badly at that.

Arthas himself is fuming within. If there is one things he hated aside from monsters in human skin was the sheer overwhelming amount of incompetence that people could perform in the line of duty.

Incompetence after all could get people killed. And their usual victims are those standing right next to them the most.

That is why he made sure to punish people for going against his orders. And made sure that they all knew of it.

Reaching the section of the camp where the supply were usually found. He growled seeing what they had or at least what was left of it.

"This is it? This was all that was left?" asked Arthas.

"Yes my lord. We saved what we could, but unfortunately we didn't arrive in time."

"How exactly did it catch fire, I was sure it was far away enough from the village."

" *gulp* m-my lord, the fire was believed to be not as big as it was initially though. I-It's just that...We didn't even know it was on fire my lord. We only stumbled upon the fire when we had to retrieve one of the knights away from the battle due to an injury but by then..."

"So it was only by sheer dumb luck that some of it was saved, is that it?"

"Y-Yes my lord."

After a tense moment of silence. Arthas continued his walk forward.

Uther came forward with Gawain and Percival, all three of them dragging six men in total. Reaching Arthas the men were then made to kneel after a hard kick from behind the knee.

Arthas then saw the while some of them was cowering from him, three others looked drunk and confused.

One of the Knights watching from the side stepped forward. "My lord they-" but was silenced when Arthas raised his hand.

This was one of the things the men had grown to know and accept. Arthas' refusal to hear the names of the men until a punishment was brought fort for their blunder. It was done so to provide impartial judgement as in the eyes of their leader, they are all subjected to the same laws.

"Tell me. I gave one order to the six of you. Even gave you command of a hundred others. Defend the supplies. And yet, you didn't jus failed to do so, you refused your duty entirely. Tell me, why?"

It was the one in the middle who spoke first. Chainmail over full plate, along with a steel sword and shield. "We simply claimed what was long due Ser." the man spat out.

"And that would be?"

The man gritted his teeth and then answered. "Glory."

Arthas raised a brow questioningly at the man. While Uther hefted his Warhammer. Most knights kind of understood his reasoning but they also knew this was not the case for most of the people here.

If there was one thing that Ironoaks didn't send to the battle, it is their youth. The young ones. The stronger ones. Though some of the men from Ironoaks are indeed young each is a bloodied man at the very least. And by minimum of at least three battles under their belts before they marched. Most of the men from Redfort and Runestone knew that most of the men that marched to this mountains were those ready to die.

Glory was the least of their concern.

"Glory you say? And overdue too? Now that is indeed a question. I after all never promised glory when we marched for the Mountain." Arthas turned to Gawain. "Did I mention anything about Glory on the way here?"

"None that I know of my Lord." Gawain answered.

Arthas then turned to Uther. "Did it slip out of my tounge at some point?"

"I don't believe so my lord." He answered.

Arthas then turned to the men of Ironoaks. "Tell me, did any of you have any misconception of our purpose here?"

"No my lord. We knew full well and had accepted it. That we would most likely die." A Knigts said solemnly. "But! with the promise that our families would be safe after, well...it was a good death if not a bad offer." the man jested.

Making some men laugh at his words. Say what they will with one another, and despite the divide and slight mistrust. None of them dared judged the other for their reason in being there with them. They are all Knights of the Vale after all.

Sadly, not all of them have that courtesy.

"As you can see young Lord. I see no reason to believe I owed you glory. But I'll entertain you words for now and tell you exactly how badly you had failed."

"You see young lord what the Mountain Tribes excelled at is Guerilla Tactics. Using the very mountains themselves to their advantages. Ambushes. A shock and awe factor is necessary to allow the Tribe's men even a hint of victory against the well armored men of the Vale. And to achieve that they need to set up traps. Traps that takes time to prepare. Ambushes that takes planning and timing.

"This is where we get our victory. We take away this factors. We move to one tribe, fighting with ferocity, announcing our arrivals not just for Valor but also to instill fear. Fear towards our enemies. We kill and kill ensuring the annihilation of our enemies to but one person. The one coward amongs them all. And he inturn leads us to the other camps, outpost and sometimes even tribes.

And then, we do it all over again."

"With our complete superiority in arms and great numbers we cut through them with effort but with each successive victory, the men, US! Grew stronger and better in the field of battle. Making hunting down the following savages, far, far more easier."

"The only thing that we needed to ensure is equipment and supply alongside the care of our recuees and the men. Simple enough with a group of capable and competent men around you."

"That is generally it, there are but a few minor factors to consider such as scouting and securing safe travel to the nearest town alongside procurement of supplies when necessary but that is it. We are winning and we are winning in such extents that this tribes are making it easier for us in their panicked state. Those eager for a fight simply meet their ends sooner than the rest."

"But now ...now that victory, is threatened." Arthas turned to the what little supplies they have left. "We have a total of 1000 men in active combat. An additional two hundred in rotation that ensure the travels of the captives we've saved back to civilization. And supplies that would have been enough for that number for the following month. Now however we have enough to field two hundred at best and that is without considering that we have an additional fifty souls that we had just rescued along with the injured that require treatment. We can have the outriders to procure supplies for the men but even still, the time required to procure them from the foot of the mountains is inconsequential to the point that I would still have to let go of half a thousand men."

"That is just the march boy. With each passing day that we aren't attacking them they grow more prepared. And a prepared force of savages that know the mountain like the back of their hands is dangerous to a marching force no matter how big they could be."

Arthas turned to the kneeling men once more but this time, the looked afraid as the truth of their current situation sinks in. Now, more and more of their fellow knights seemed to throw them scathing looks while those who don't looked too grim to do so.

"Thanks to you I will have to march us all down from the Mountains and restart the hunt once more. Which will surely be dangerous, as not only will they be taking our threat very seriously now, but they would also have time to prepare. All of which are nothing but bad news for us."

Arthas sighed as he stopped speaking, his disappointment evident in his face. But the men around him felt differently. There was a growing unease among them and a brewing anger towards the young Heirs and their retinue, the latter in which tried to disappear into the crowed.

"Gawain, Uther, Mordred. With me." Arthas said, prompting the men to move.

Arthas reach a makeshift base within one of the huts and addressed the issue immediately.

"How much can be forage"

"Not much my lord. Enough for a hundred men, no more."

"Damn." Arthas cursed.

"My lord if I may?" asked Uther, receiving a nod from Arthas. "We can leave a host here. Three hundred men. To launch an attack to the next ba-"

"No!" Arthas said firmly.

"My lord it would buy us time." Uther tried to reason but Arthas was not having it.

"You are about to tell me to sentence three hundred men to die. Knowing they will be killed even before the rest returns. I will not have it."

"Arthas, their very presence could cause a distraction. Long enough to deceive this savages that our forces are still here."

"If we had a host of skilled hunters I would have entertained the idea but we don't. We have knights, armored knights. And despite their growth in combat, with skill and experience we still have little to no knowledge of the terrain which reduce their combative performance within this woods. It would be hell for them."

"*sigh*...yes they would die. But their death could save hundreds more. And give us the fighting chance necessary to still secure Victor in this war."

"I will not have it Uther! Prepare the men to march down. Together. That's an order."

"*sigh* As my Lord commands."

Arthas heard the foot steps of his squires and most trusted aid leave the hut but he could still see one.

"You disagree."

"My Lord, Ser Uther is right." Mordred replied.

"...I can't sentence these men to their deaths Mordred. They aren't criminals nor are they deserters. They are knights, knights who had pledged themselves under my leadership. And while some of them did it out of glory and fear, most just did it to survive. With hopes that they would still be able to go home. How could I possible tell them to stay and die?"

"My lord if you do not make this choice, then you sentence others to such a penance." she said firmly. "My Lord you are so close to victory. One that many had thought impossible since the Andals first arrived here. That glory will immortalize your name into legends. But if not for that then for the men. If you don't make this dark and terrible choice then others will be imposed with it. There would be death my lord, most likely on our way back up the mountains this time."

There was silence between the two. While Arthas was swamped with indecision, for Mordred it simply a means of necessity. She knew her Lord would continue to discard the very idea itself. But as a warrior, she knew he has to hear them.

She fears for her teacher. He sometimes sees the world so differently that even she knew that he is starting to make the same mistakes he had been doing before once more. One such matter is his disregard of the person's name until judged.

His words centered around equality that placed everyone under the same light of the same laws. Such way of thinking despite ideal and beautiful in her eyes could be disasterous to himself in the eyes of the privileged.

Sometimes she believes her teacher have come from a world where all were good. Too good to be true in fact, or at the very least, better than their own world.

Moments passed and still her teacher looked lost. There is an understanding in him, aware of the necessity of such a sacrifice. But his morals tell of a different story.

"Arthas." Mordred said as she cupped his cheek. Making him turn her way. "This may be difficult to accept. But all Lords must decide for the betterment of the whole. Of their people. Even if it meant, sacrificing the happiness of their own... or the lives of his men. I'm sorry but our world is not like yours, our world is cruel."

Mordred then smiled sadly at him and his stunned expression. She gave his cheek a soft kiss and then left. Knowing this was something he had to decide for himself.

~~~ Break ~~~

The Knights of the Vale were working over time as they secure the rescuees who were all looking excited and happy. While tending to the injured and prepping them for the way down. But despite the safety of their destination, there is a grim air that lingers in the air.

The heirs along with those who were meant to guard the supplies received nothing but glares and looks of disappointment shot their way. And while one of them was understanding and embarrassed of his actions, the others were fuming as instead they felt humiliated.

Even more so now that Uther had them moved to the front of the march on the way down. Away from the injured or the rescuees who will be at the center of the small army.

All halted once Arthas stepped out of his hut wearing a black gambeson, with a steel spouldron and gauntlet on one arm, and a pair of greaves with his sword hefted on his armored shoulder.

Soon he had all of their attention. They simply turned to him waiting for him speak. And then he said. "I am sorry. But this is the best course of action for us. Marching us forward with the necessary supplies will bring us too high to the mountains. Too deep into enemy grounds and that would mean nothing less than a death sentence."

"You have all followed me so far. Some out of duty, some for revenge, others for glory but most of you. Most of you followed me hoping that you may still have the chance to go home. And that is what we had always strived to do through our times here together."

His words resonated to them and nodded to his truths.

"But we have come so far only for us to fail now. Our way down would be smooth it would be easy with our numbers. But our path back up would be perilous. It would be threaded by death. Just like the Knights of Old who have died here."

There was worry in their eyes. But Arthas was happy to see that most of them remained resolute where they stood. Giving him a sense of pride that he embraced, making him puff his chest a bit and stand straighter with his sword now planted on the ground while his hands rest upon them.

"Much have been sacrificed to get us this far and I hope to ensure that this sacrifices does not go in vain. *sigh* Which is why I will be staying-" The men tried to argue immediately. Each one of them urging him to return down the mountains with them. Some even tried to assure him that they could return with a more sizable force once The Vale hears of their accomplishments.

Their talking seizes once Arthas raised his hand.

"This is a must. To spare us more lives. To save more lives. To defend more lives. As is our duty." Arthas looked around and knew they all heard him. "I would not ask of you to make this sacrifice. As your life is not mine to live after all. But to those of you who are ready to die, you may stay. I cannot promise you a way back home. But I promise to lead you to a death, one of your own choosing if destiny would have it."

"You have until midday."

With those words he parted, knowing he had said his piece. Now he only need to wait for those who would answer the call.

Inside the hut Arthas was bombarded with Uther's booming voice once he entered.

"Why the hell was that lad!?"

"A necessity." Arthas answered.

"I was telling you to command them boy not do it yourself!"

"I would not ask another to make a sacrifice I myself is unwilling to make."

"Convince yourself another time boy! You have to recti-"

"No I will not."

"Arthas-"

"Do not presume to command me Uther! You! have no power over me!"

After a tense moment of silence Uther relented as he gave an apologetic look towards him.

"Arthas, you need not do this. Others could easily take your place. All the good you could do lad. All of it is threatened in your absence. And believe me I am quite looking forward to what you may bring to this world."

"Me too Uther, me too. But my decision is final. As a my Knight, I need you to fill in my shoes in my absence. They will need a protector and your shall be that person. As for leadership, you could never go wrong with Gawain and Mordred."

"*sigh*... the lass has more bite than even I could manage. But aye, she'd be good to them for sure... is there truly nothing I could say to make you change your mind?"

"Go Uther and fulfill your oath." Arthas said with a smile.

Uther smiled and knelt as he bowed with his Warhammer planted by his side.

"As my King commands." he jested.

~~~ Break ~~~

"Seven praises noble Knights!"

"May the Gods ever favor you!"

"Please! Survive!"

"Thank you Sers! Thank You all!"

The rescuees shouted as they moved away with the rest of the army on the way down to the nearest town which is sadly, a whole week away. Probably more with such a large host travelling together.

Arthas looked around and saw determination and acceptance residing in the eyes of the men who had stayed with him.

Three hundred men. Of the thousand he led, three hundred were ready to die.

"Thank you all, for staying. It may not mean much, but I shall strive to make your deaths worthy." Arthas said.

One of the men from the back walked forward. A burly man with scars covering most of him. Trimed black hair and shaven face. He was a full two heads taller than Arthas and wearing the sigil of Ironoaks on a piece of cloth in his shoulder.

"My wife and daughters. They were saved by you my lord. Not just from the raids, but secured their lives aswell as you offered and gave compensation to them for my service in this war. You insured their future even at the event of my death. And for that I am grateful."

"I did so not hoping to buy a life but to provide aid to those they may left behind."

The man smiled. "All the more better. I never dreamed of dying for a cause my lord. But allow this man his pride, even for a little bit. Even if it meant dying for yours to repay this debt and this gratitude."

Seeing every man around him nod at his words gave Arthas a sense of accomplishment and sadness as the reality of his situation sets in once more. Taking a deep breath, Arthas filled himself with determination as he steadied hais resolve.

"Then come brothers. Let us face hell together, so that your sons and daughters may not have to."