Strange Encounter

Alaric sat behind the ramparts of his fortress with his back against the merlon. His shoulder had an arrow embedded in it, while there was a giant bleeding wound across his face, which caused his beard to be dyed crimson. The man coughed heavily as his soldiers fought off the eastern roman invaders, who tried their best to get into the fortress. 

The war had been going on for nearly two months as Constantius marched his armies east into Illyricum. Every day, Alaric would stand on the ramparts and defend the fortress behind him. Why? Because it was his people, the goths who would suffer most if the diocese fell to the east. All that stood between them and a horde of angry romans was himself, and the warriors by his side, who fought and bled for the continued survival of their people.