I Refuse to be Fate's Puppet

He woke to a scream.

It was one filled with fear and pain. He bolted upright out of his bed, rushed to the window and looked out to the horror before him. His usually quiet and peaceful kingdom now in chaos. He saw flames coming from the village outside the castle's courtyard. Then he saw shadows chasing and slaying his citizens. His subjects were being slaughtered as the dark figures made their way through the village and came closer and closer to the castle walls. The sound of what appeared to be a wolf's howl reached him and fear gripped his heart.

Sith Wolves.

They were terrifying beasts that left behind them a trail of death wherever they went. They could only be controlled by an Arawn, leader of the pack. And all Arawn's had a master.

This was an attack.

The king made an incantation gesture with his right hand as a red light appeared before him. The light entered through his chest, causing him to glow as the light spread around him. A black and red armor began to emerge over him. He opened his eyes and a red tinge could be seen in his normally black eyes. He grabbed a blade off the wall before heading to the door.

"What's going on?"

He paused at the door and looked over to the bed. The light voice floated over to him and soothed him instantly. Her eyes causing him to settle his thoughts as he got lost in them.

"Trouble, my love. I must go quickly to protect my people."

His reply filled with a resoluteness he did not have a moment ago. Her long legs moved off the bed. He watched her as she gracefully rose. Her hand made a gesture similar to the kings as a blue light appeared in her palm. It slowly danced its way up her arm and then covered her completely. As the light faded she stood there in a white cloak with a delicate blue pattern that danced its way across her sleeves and her back. She grabbed a light blue and black staff that was hanging on the wall.

"They are my people too. And when you fight, I fight."

"Yes my Queen."

The door opened and a man in black armor stood before the King and Queen. Behind him stood four soldiers clad in red and black.

"Excuse me your Majesty, we.."

"Explain on the way, Commander. This needs to be dealt with quickly."

The King and Queen walked with authority as they left the room and headed to the War Room. The commander and the soldiers followed them quickly.

"Sire, Sith Wolves entered Veritas half a minute ago. They came through the South gate, over the Western Wall and through the North-Eastern barricade simultaneously. We believe there are 4-6 Arwans leading their individual packs. They have mainly been contained on the Western Walls side, but the other 2 entry points are still in dire states. It was well planned. It coincided near perfectly with the guard changes. The timing of the attack indicates.."

"They were informed. An inside job."

The King's face darkened.

A force like this could only be brought together by someone in a powerful position, and someone strategically inclined.

He felt an uneasiness about the whole situation.

There was a howling from down the hall as they ran, the sounds of swords clashing and screams. The soldiers hearing their comrades felt an urgency to run faster. But in that moment the King stopped running. The King froze as he felt that something was amiss. The Queen and the commander both stopped in place noticing the Kings reaction.

"Your Majesty? We must hurry."

As the soldiers continued running and the commander was turning to follow, the King's eyes widened as he grabbed his wife and the commander.

"Get d.."

An expolsion blew apart the wall. Bricks and fire bursted through covering them.

Debris flew and hit two of the soldiers, immediately crushing them.

In the ash, 3 figures walked through the hole in the wall.

"Oh damn. I missed, I only got a couple of the small fry." The hooded figure standing in the middle waltzed over and crouched by one of the crushed soldiers before poking his head, playing with it.

The commander and the soldiers quickly responded, charging towards the intruders.

The hooded figure made a shooing gesture while still playing with the free corpse and the two beside him vanished, reappearing half a second later behind the soldiers, each holding a head in their hands. The commander attacked the one to his left, but was struck before he knew what had happened.

A scythe placed across his neck.

"Du….Dullahan…"

A quick slice and his head rolled on the floor.

3 warriors killed in a second.

The man who was crouching took a drop of blood from the soldier he was toying with. It glowed in his hand before turning black, he then tipped his hand and let it fall to the floor.

Shadows came up from the ground, pushing the King away before swallowing the Queen whole and vanishing.

"No!" The King yelled as he got up with tears brimming his eyes and ran to where the Queen had disappeared, but shadows had appeared and latched themselves to his wrists dragging him down on to his knees.

He channelled his energy through his body when the shadows on his hand drained the energy before he could use it. What kind of magic was this?

The two Dullahan, still holding the soldiers heads, went and stood behind the hooded figure as he stood up and approached the King.

"And our great and glorious King now finds himself kneeling before me. I feel like this is not proper etiquette your Majesty. A true King bows to no one, correct?"

The King visibly shook as he heard the man talk. This theatrical and grand way of speaking was all too familiar to him.

"Such a shame that this is where your story ends, but alas, the curtain must fall. A new main character is needed for there to be further progress."

The hooded figure moved towards the King and raised his hand, the shadows began making its way across the Kings body.

"Farewell my King."

Laughter surrounded the King as he struggled to move, light slowly fading around him. He screamed but his voice was muffled. Darkness pulling him in. Rage boiling in him, cursing the day he trusted this bastard.

I need to get out!

My Kingdom. My people.

My Queen….