2 comments/ 15292 views/ 1 favorites Is it Enough Ch. 01 By: smoss As Stefen Moss stood in the before his father and the queen, he was aware that everyone was looking at him mainly due to the fact that he was not the queen son, he was the kings and a human woman. Stefen was five feet and nine inches and weight about one hundred seventy pounds. He carried his birth mother brown eyes, yet he had his father sliver hair. Queen Alvina looked at her stepson, she did not bother hiding the fury in her eyes, it was mainly for her husband and his affair, but she loved him like her own daughters. She was a flood blooded Elf that stood at five feet and weight about one hundred and twenty pounds. Her blue eyes could pierce a soul. When she learned of Stefen birth mother death when he was one, she had to twist her husbands arm to ensure that he at least has a family to come live with; she also had an idea as to who killed the boy mother. In the seventeen years that Stefen has lived in the castle, she has grown to love him as if he was her own son. Her own daughters felt like he was a younger brother, but everyone knew that if a fight came his way, you best back away. In the Kingdom of Haven, the human race was the lowest class and most were used for slave labor. Elros had assigned a female bodyguard to his son to ensure that he was protected from harm; he also had an idea to as to who killed the mother of his son. It would never have been know that he had an affair expect the child had his hair. He had never really spent time with Stefen for fear of getting close to him. Today was a special day because Stefen was turning eighteen year olds and since he was half-human, Elros thought it best to give some truth to his birthright. "Stefen," Elros began, "today is your eighteenth birthday and as my son if you could have any wish what would it be." The royal court looked at the half-breed as he stood before their king, some in the throne room held nothing but contempt for the child of their king and a human slave. Yet, in the face the royal guard members and the Commander of the guard they hid that contempt for the simple reason that Stefen was the unofficial second in command of the royal guard. They also knew that in his training with the guard that the member of the regiment came to respect him as a fighter. They also knew that as an unofficial member of the guard he had more training than anyone else did. Yet, know one knew that inside Stefen was hurting because he was shunned in both the elf and human world, sometime he thought of running away and other time he thought of taking his life. "If I could have any wish father," Stefen replied, "it would be that I wish I had never been born, that way people wouldn't have to deal with the sight of a half-breed." There was a gasp from the royal court mainly because it was a general fact that some wish that he was dead. Alvina returned her attention back to Stefen and saw the tears rolling down his face as they hit the carpet, without a word he turned and left the chamber, leaving everyone watching him. Everyone knew something was wrong for the simple fact that Stefen Moss has never shown any emotions since his he turn fourteen. Alvina stood up and began to walk toward Stefen's camber. As Stefen ran to his room, he did not need to look back to see Alatáriel slip into his room after he had shut the door. As Alatáriel sat on the bed next to him, she wrapped her arms around him. "Stefen," Alatáriel said, "don't let those backstabber get to you, beside you have me." Stefen looked up at Alatáriel; Stefen called her Lat for short, and wiped his tears then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Alatáriel move a curl out of his eye. She had been assigned to protect the son of an elf and a human when he was just one. At first, she held nothing but revulsion for the child, but over the years, as she watched him grow, that revulsion changed to something else and she began to understand that the feeling was love for him in the same way he showed her. "Sometime, I feel like just running away Lat," Stefen replied, "I know that when I first came here you were repulsed by me, I could see it in your eyes even as a child. I even saw it in the eyes of the nannies that my father appointed to care for me." Lat looked at him and gave him a laugh as she kissed him, "For seventeen years I have watched you and you know what, I have grown to love you Stefen Moss as a man because you show love to even those who don't even deserve it, you're a special young man." Stefen gave her a weak smile as he leaned over and gave her a kiss and parted her mouth with his tongue. Suddenly a female voice came from the doorway, "So you have two wishes, it that it Stefen?" Stefen and Alatáriel jumped up off the bed to find Queen Alvina looked at them. Alatáriel bowed to the Queen after and left the room to return to her post, Stefen fell back on the bed and pulled his hair as Alvina smiled to Lat. As Alvina to a seat on her stepson's bed she laid down looked at him and gave him a smiled, "So my dear boy, you do love someone with your heart." Stefen looked at his stepmother; he had always called her mom because even with the nannies she had tried to grow close to him, "Yes, mom, damn the rules that state that s one not born of the royal blood can't inherit the throne." Alvina gave him a smile, as she replied, "Just remember my dear boy that she loves you like a man and woman and your sister, love you as do I, now don't every let me hear you say something like you did earlier." Stefen leaned over and kissed his stepmother on the cheek, as he replied, "Yeah mom." As Alvina stood up she walked to the door and as she stepped outside and shut the door, she looked at Lat, "Lat, take care of my boy because that what he is my boy." Alatáriel looked at her queen and gave her a nod, "I would lay down my life for him and I think he would do the same for me." Alvina walked up to her and gave her a kiss on the head, "Go child get some sleep, I'm sure the Duke of Grey can sleep on his own." Lat looked at her queen, that dukedom was the next in line to the throne of Haven in case the Royal Family had no heirs. As both Alvina and Alatáriel walk away from Stefen bed-camber, they knew that he need the sleep, they just did not know it would change him. As Stefen lay in his bed, he began to toss and turn in his sleep as he saw his family bodies on the ground with barbarians killing elves as they moved in the castle. He woke up screaming hearing the words, "You shall die with them child, when we come none will be safe." Lat came running into the room and took one at the man she loved and crawled onto the bed with him and wrapped him in her arms. She looked at as the queen and princess ran into the room. One look at Stefen and they knew something was wrong, they notice as Stefen went back to sleep that the king never came to the room. Alvina knew she was going to have to have a chat with her husband, this was his son, born of his flesh and something had scared him to the point that he work up the entire regiment and castle staff. She began to wonder, If it was enough to just take his son in. Is it Enough Ch. 02 "Ma'am, all of the guardsmen are ready for the event." A deep voice said, "We are just waiting on the prince." As Commander Linwë look at her second in command she gave him a nod, it was a sunny day and after last night, it was hard for anyone to get back sleep. When Prince Stefen had screamed every castle guard had rushed to his section of the castle. He did not tell anyone what had awoken him during the night and no one was going to ask. Linwë looked up as she heard the heavy footsteps of Prince Stefen Moss. As she looked up she found him walking slower than normal, he also appeared deep in thought. She was one of the few that knew that his human name in elvish was Finrod Luacuteinwë. He was a commander in the Haven Army, it was said that those under his command had come to respect him when he informed a barbarian overlord that he would hang his head on the castle walls. Even those in the guard had come to respect him for the simple fact of the matter was that when he was in battle, nothing stood in his way. "Your Highness, " Linwë said standing in front of him, "I was wondering if the Second Division would be ready for tonight." Stefen stopped walked and looked at her as if she was there for the first time, most of the guards stopped sparring and looked at Stefen, they could tell something was wrong as he looked at their commander. "Yes, Commander, my master at arms informs me that they will be ready." Linwë looked on as he began to walk away, never had he been like he was at the moment, so lost. "Inform the Queen I need to speak to her." ************* As Stefen left the parade ground he head to his cambers, to night the castle would be getting two guest from two enemies, the barbarians and the vampires. At least those two were more of a threat than the rest of them. He knew that since his mother had been a slave, she must have been capture when the Havens' raided a barbarian camp. He also knew that since she gave birth to him, the barbarians consider him evil. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he grabbed his dagger and threw it into the mirror, as he laid on the bed he heard it break. 'My Liege ,' a voice said inside his head, 'be warned, darkness is coming.' As Stefen sat up on his bed, he looked around his, correction, the castle's room. He had never really been a part of this life, he was just a bystander. "Guard?" His door open and in walked his second guard, Lat was in the square training with everyone else. He had made a choice and now with her away this was better. The guard gave a small bow when he enter the room. Stefen walked over to him and handed him the royal rings, "Give these to the king while he is in court." The male elf looked at Stefen and then at the ring, if he was giving these rings back it could only me one thing. Stefen watched the guard leave the room, no doubt to spread the word that Stefen Moss, had given up his title. Stefen took one more look around the room and grabbed his ridding cloak and his weapons. If his guess was correct he knew where this darkness was and he was not going to wait for it. As he began the walk to the sable, he didn't give a looked back to the room. ************* King Elros sat in his chair, reviewing some minor military matters, when a castle guard ran into the room and laid two rings on the table. His wife who was also in attendance looked at the ring and jumped from the table. As Elros looked at the rings, he felt like his soul had been crushed. After seventeen years of hatred, Stefen had finally left. Yet, he was not leaving because of them, he was leaving to give them a chance to fight. Elros had his mages give the impression that war was coming and in truth it was, yet Stefen would have to be enough to hold back the darkness coming. A tear rolled down his face, as he thought he may habe just sent his only son to his death. ************* As Stefen rode toward the gates of Haven, he felt like his entire army was riding with him and when he turned around, he saw them coming towards him. He waited for them to catch up with him at the gate. As he looked into their eye he could tell there was no point in asking, they were riding with him to the end. He also saw Lat making her way towards him, as he horse came side by side. "If you ever pull that move again Your Highness, I will kick you butt." "So will I brother." Stefen turned and saw his half-sister, Princess Artanis moving toward him. Stefen knew that there was no point in fight both Lat and Tan. As he looked around, he looked at his men and women. "Men and Women, we are about to try and head off a war before it starts, some of us may not come back, and some of us may be consider traitors because of what we are about to do, but we may not have a choice in the matter. I refuse to allow evil into this land, we have two visitors I feel are unwelcome, let escort them out the lands." Stefen turned his horse around and raced toward the gate, commoners moved out of the way, as the Haven Second Division rode past toward the gate, with the some member of the royal guard. As Stefen rode past the gate he just prayed that this was enough to stop a war. Is it Enough Ch. 03 As King Elros sat in the throne chair, he saw that his wife was in attendance as well, she knew she didn't need to be her but she wanted to see the looked in the court eyes. Elros surveyed the room before standing up. "Yesterday, my son, handed me the his royal rings. After seventeen years of hatred from this court he has fled, but not to leave us." Elros walked down the stairs and came to his commander of the Haven Army. General Roué didn't bother to bring his eyes to me his king, for the simple matter of the fact was that seventeen years ago, he had gave the order for Stefen's mother to be killed as well as the infant child. Roué didn't even see the punch that knocked him to the ground. The entire court took one deep breath, as they watch their loyal commander get knock to the ground. Elros drew his sword and brought his former friend head up. "Tell me, Roué what would possess you to order the murder of my son mother, what would possess you to spread hatred into this court and what would possess you to put his entire division against a horde of the Alliance." Roué looked into Elros eyes and saw the hurt, the pain, and the anger. "Milord, it was foretold that a child of elf and human would bring foretold danger..." Elros motion for the royal guards to move forward and grab the former supreme commander. "You know the prophecy, and you are wrong. It foretold of a child born of the king who would bridge two world and unite them against the darkness. Roué, my son and my daughter who also left her rings behind, just went to meet the Alliance in combat and I pray that the our allies can catch up to them." Roué looked around the room, he hung his head in shame, "That bastard lied to me." Elros was about to return to his throne when both Commander Linwë and Queen Alvina jumped from their spots and looked at him, Elros watched as his wife drew her sword. "Who lied to you traitor?" Roué looked at the two women in front of him, he took a breath as he replied, "Overlord Zebu, came to me, before he was born and told me that this abomination would bring untold danger to the Kingdom and then he came to me before the war started. I did what I did for my country." Alvina looked at her husband as the traitor was taken away. Zebu was an emissary for the mistress of the alliance. Since Stefen birth, she had always want to gain an audience and see the child of two worlds. If her Overlord, was the one that planet the seed of doubt his the general head, then war was coming because Haven only had three division, and Stefen was the strongest. She had even threaten that if she had not see the boy by his eighteen birthday then she would bring the wrath of the Alliance down on the Kingdom. Even with the other Elves Kingdoms and the Dwarves and remnant of the Rangers, they could not hold out. ********** As Stefen sat atop his horse, he could hear the horse behind him, as the Second Division and those guards followed him. It was strange that men and elves were willing to risk their lives for him and even stake them on his order. As they drew near the Olsen River, Stefen could see figures standing on the bridge. He pulled his horse to a slow walk and could hear the rest of his army doing the same. As he turned around, he gave Lat a look and she turned to the guards, as they surrounded his sister. Stefen jumped down from his horse and place his hand on his sword as he walked forward. As he near the figures he saw that they were dress in the ranger hoods. If the spirits were correct, then he could not trust anyone. Spirits, I call upon you, if I am in danger, then show me, he said in his mind. He felt something behind, turned around, he found just his men. Stefen looked at each one, as he drew his sword. He felt his body go all warm as he turned back around, he looked at the Rangers. As he moved forward he took a breath and raised his sword, he now understood, that presence, it was not the spirits. "Creatures," Stefen said loud enough, "You are on the wrong side of the bridge, I suggest you return back to whence you came." The five robed figure stopped walking in a circle and turned to the small unit of elves and humans. As they threw their robes off, they gave a shirking laughter, that sent chill up Stefen spine. He raised his sword and took up his attack position, as he looked past the one in front of him he saw more coming over the bridge. He looked at his men and saw that the rest of his unit was still hidden. Turning back around, he smiled, "You picked a bad day to fuck with me. Men enjoy the fight." Suddenly the small unit of bodyguard broke formation and began to fight against the horde of the Alliance, one could see Vampire, Orcs, Goblins, Werewolves, and other creatures as they came across the bridge. Stefen began to dodge attacks as he took off heads and limbs, he made a vow months ago that no creature of the Alliance would walk away from his fight. As he and his men were pushed back to back, they notice they were surrounded. Stefen looked around and gave each of his men a nod, if this was their end then they would go out fight. As they ready for their finally attack, arrow began to rain from the sky, hitting enemy soldiers. Stefen and his men didn't waste time, instead of waiting see who there saviors were, they began he attack on the confused soldiers. As they Haven soldiers stood among the bodies of Alliance soldiers. They looked up as men began to jumped from the roof. Stefen put his sword back on it sheath and looked at the men. "You know, Ranger, that was a close one," Stefen said stepping forward. Commander Sliven took a step forward and looked at his friend, as he replied, "And what miss, the action of the famous Stefen Moss, take on Zebu men." Sliven thought he saw something in the young prince eyes as he said the name of the man that had almost killed him. Everyone turned around as the sound of horse shoes could be heard coming to the bridge. Stefen looked at the other end of the bridge and saw something move, as he began to take a step forward, he drew his sword. He could hear something in the wind as he moved forward. He didn't see the archer as an arrow flew out of the darkness. Young Prince, you shouldn't have come, a female voice said in his thought. Stefen grabbed a hold of the railing, as he looked into the darkness, the arrow had pierced his arm. Even though he never seen the person before, he knew who she was, she was the Mistress of the Alliance, it was said that she ruled with an iron fist. Then Mistress, I would not be granting you wish, you wanted to see me, well, I'm coming, he sent back to her. "Fire of light," Stefen spoke aloud, "brighter than fire, show me, the hound that stand before me." A ball of fire was sent in his hand for the second before he threw it into the wood, revealing the Mistress of the Alliance as she sat on her hound. She was a woman that could put everyone to shame, She had blue eyes that could stab your soul, he hair was a black and it stop at her shoulder. Yet the on feature that set her apart from any creatures was he teeth, they were the same a vampires, expect that her ear were elf like. Stefen readied one more fireball, but the darkness took him as the poison on the arrow move throughout his body. ******* Note From the Author: I'm working on the next part of this series, I would like to thank everyone who has vote. This is really moving along. Is it Enough Ch. 04 Darkness clouded his vision as he opened his eyes and looked around, as he looked around, he found himself in a bed. Rubbing his eyes, he slowly sat up on the bed with his legs hanging off the bed. Looking around the room, he found his clothes and weapons lying on a chair next to the bed. As Stefen slowly began to stand up, he felt weak in the knees, causing him to fall back on the bed. Upon hearing the door creak open, Stefen looked up to see his sister and Lat walk into the room, both woman looked pissed and so they were. As Stefen tried to stand up once more Lat pushed him back down on the bed. "You are stay in if I have to tie you down," Lat informed him as she sat next to him. Tan sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, "My dear brother you either very foolish or very brave." "Milady," a voice spoke from the doorway, "I think he's' a bit of both." Stefen rolled his eyes, as he looked Lord Sliven, Lord of Bunker Hall and Commander of the local Ranger forces. It was their primary duty to ensure that the borders of the four kingdoms remain free of the Alliance. Sliven looked at the young prince and saw the question in his eye. "My liege, forgive me for my lateness, it seem that the Alliance wants a war and they are doing everything to start one." Waving both women off his arm, Stefen stood up and for the first time noticed, the he was naked. Diving back under the sheets of the bed, Stefen looked at Lat and Tan who were suppressing giggles, "Out the both of you, now!" The girls continued to laugh as they walked into the hallway, Sliven took pity on Stefen and threw him his pants, "I swear, Stefen, how do you put up with those two?" Stefen looked at his old friend and gave him a sad face, "'You notice I like to stay on the front line a lot, well, the only time I see them is when I come home for reports." Sliven began to laugh once Stefen was fully dress and the girls were admitted back into the room. "How long have I been out," he asked them. Tan looked at him and replied, "Three days, brother and we had to call an elf healer because you burned yourself. When did you start using magic?" Stefen looked at her and lower his head to the floor, being a mage was both a gift and a curse because you had the ability to do something special but your powers scared those around you. For Stefen it was a curse because it just pushed him further away for at least a normal life. "It was a secret," Stefen replied, "but I been able to use magic for fire, but I want some would call a Sprite Mage, I'm able to see the dead, as in ghost." The three in the room looked at him, but Sliven looked up when he notice that the sun was going down, he took a deep breath as he turned to leave the room, "My Liege, I think it best that you lay down a rest, your strength has not fully returned." Stefen looked at his oldest friend and nodded and laid back down in the bed, he felt like something was weighing down but he did not know what it was. Soon my young prince you will be mine, the Mistress spoke in his mind. Mistress, he replied, If it me you want then come and get me. Oh, I will my prize, I will, she replied and began to laugh, but are you defense enough to hold me back, is it enough that I will level you people human and elves. You have three days to give me my answer... Stefen looked out at the fading light as darkness swept the land, he allowed himself some sleep after his chat with the Mistress, before everyone else work he would have to work out a plan because no one was worth his life. ****** Before the sun rose the next day, Stefen was in the sables preparing his horse when he heard footsteps behind, gripping his sword, Stefen spun around to find three of his most loyal bodyguards. After ensuring that everything was ready with his horse, Stefen jumped into the saddle and looked at his guards. "Knights," he said walking forward, "a demand has been made by the Mistress; I intend to answer her demand in person. One way or another, this war ends before it begins." Is it Enough Ch. 05 I would like to thank Techsan for his editing and for having the patience with dealing with me on this story. ****** As the four riders rode in the night, the Gates of Hellion opened and thousands upon thousands of creatures of darkness massed in front of their Mistress. She was the product of a female Ranger and a vampire who was Eleven-born; she once had a name, but none dared speak it. While she looked at her subjects as they kneeled before her, her eye glowed as she spoke, "I want the Prince brought before me alive and unharmed. If he so much as has a scratch on him, then the price will be death for those that brought him to me." As she turned back around, she scanned the horizon. She knew about the spies that hid in the forest bordering the Empire of Hellion, and she wanted them to report to the Humans, Elves, and Dwarves, that the Alliance was coming and they were coming for the prince who should have belonged to their Mistress eighteen years ago. ****** It was eighteen years ago that the prince was born, but at the time he was no prince. He did not know the anger or the malice of those that thought he was an abomination. His mother, who was one a mission cared for him but she loved her son even if he was just a means to an end. His mother knew that she had to give her son up, but she would care for him and love him. As darkness began to fall, she began to wonder if she should run, but where she could run; her child was not supposed to be born. Some would call it an act against the crown, and truth be told it was. She was sent by the Mistress of the Alliance to sire a child by the king and she had successful completed that mission, but no one told her that when she held the child, she would feel love. She could not allow her child, her son, to be used by the Mistress. She began to pack her clothes and grabbing her son, ran out into the night as it began to rain. If she could get to the Rangers, they might be able to save her son. When she came to the gate of Haven, she fought the gate guards until they were dead. She began to look around when she heard footsteps behind her, "My dear child, were you trying to run from the Mistress?" "No," she replied as the figure in the shadows moved forward. His eyes were red from just feeding on the four guards. He was sent here to get this slave and her child, but his Mistress had informed him that the child was his priority and the mother could be fed upon if needed. His name was Underlord Zebu and he felt like it was beneath him to come for this child. It was his duty to protect the Alliance and this abomination would not live to see the first light. He gave a nod to those around him as they began to move forward. The mother began to back away from the creature; she could not allow her son, her flesh and blood, to fall into the hands of the Alliance. She saw more men behind the vampire. She knew now that she and her child might not live. Suddenly she began to scream, to get someone to save her son. Her life meant nothing if he was not alive. The attackers began to look around when lights in homes began to be lit. One moved in fast and stabbed her in the back as she protected her son. When she looked back, she saw Royal Guards running toward her. She could feel her life force leaking from her body as she held her son. When she looked at him, she smiled; during the entire commotion, he had slept and he was still sleeping. As Captain Galadriël Anwamanë kneeled next to the woman, she heard her say, "Tell the King to protect his son at all cost." Galadriël looked at the infant and saw that he was a hybrid of human and elf. As she looked around, she caught the eye of her commander. When Galadriël grabbed the child, she placed the blanket around his ears as she walked up to Commander Aredhel Oronar. She nodded toward the castle. The two guard officers began the run to the castle, with Galadriël holding the child, not letting anyone see him. As the two got to the castle, they ran right to the Royal Chamber and entered it without knocking. ****** While Stefen and his men rode in the darkness, Bunker Hall was in an uproar over how the prince could sneak out of the stronghold. Lord Sliven was pacing back and forth in his study as Princess Artanis looked at him. How could his friend run like that? One of his watch guards reported seeing three riders leave the castle heading toward the Hellion Region. "Your highness," he said looking at her, "I take what I said back. Your brother is foolish." Artanis looked at him and gave him a smile, "He is also very smart, and I'm starting to understand why he started having nightmares. Stefen is not your normal hybrid. I was there when the royal guards brought him to my father. I saw his true self. Stefen is a mixture of four races: human, elf, vampire and mage, only his human and elf side are more dominant than the other two." As she walked toward the window, she looked at the rising sun and a tear rolled down her cheek. "For the past seven years, I've been learning all I could about Stefen's birth. What I learned shook me to the core. His mother seduced my father to bring about his birth, but after he was born, she wanted to protect him at all cost and the cost was his mother's life. Stefen hates everything the Alliance is because his best friend was killed by them, so you see, My Lord, he is going to fight and he will win." Sliven walked up beside her and nodded, "Then..." They both turned around when the door was opened and in rushed two Ranger spies; they had been stationed on the borders watching Hellion. Sliven knew that for both of them to be here must be urgent. "My Lord, Hellion is on the move!" Sliven looked at them and then at the princess. Turning around he took a deep breath, "Gather the men. We need to get the princess back to Haven at once." Artanis nodded as he walked out of the room. The war her brother had wanted to head had started and now. She would have to return home without her brother. She wondered how she could tell Lat that Stefen was on his own. ****** It took three days to reach the small settlement of Hope, but the riders had ridden hard, not stopping for anything. As the four riders enter the small settlement, they were met by the Lord Mayor. The leader of the four riders could sense that something was wrong when he saw people running to their houses. "Gentlemen," he spoke, "I would like to welcome you to Hope. How can I help you?" The leader kept his hood down as he looked at the Lord Mayor. "Why do your townspeople hide in their homes?" "We have had a run of trouble lately, because we are close to the border," the mayor replied as he looked at the other three faces. "Have you not heard the Three Kingdoms are in a war against the Alliance? The first battle was at Conga." The leader looked at his three riders and nodded. Turning around he scanned the town. He leaned down and whispered in the mayor's ears, "Get your people to safety. If you have any soldiers or warriors, now is the time." Stefen looked from under his cloak as the mayor ran back to his house. He knew that the first thing the Alliance did was kill the soldiers. He began to scan the shadows looking for the creatures as they stepped out from hiding during the day. He saw one step out and look at them as they stood in the center of town. "Well, look what we have here - fresh meat," the Alpha said as he sized them up. As Stefen looked around, he took a deep breath calming his nerves while he drew his swords. "In the name of the King, you are ordered to leave at once or else." The Alpha looked around and shook his head as he thought, 'These poor elves and humans are about to die and they would die doing their duty. How sad.' He gave a nod to his minions as they rushed the group. Stefen and his knights began to fight off the group of twenty Alliance soldiers, after throwing his robe to the side. He began to attack in a fury. He felt pain as one sword cut him on the arm causing him to drop his sword. The blood sent the vampires in a frenzy as they tried to take him to the ground, but Stefen fought back. As the Alpha looked on, he gave a smile. His followers would feed well tonight. Stefen fell to one knee as he looked around. He shook his head as he stood back up. They were barely holding off the enemy soldiers. He was down to one knight in the fight. Looking around, he heard a voice calling him. "My Lord, you must call upon us." "Use your gift, defend those you love. Call the DEAD!" Stefen saw the last guardian fall to the ground as the two vampires took him down and began to feed. Shaking his head Stefen looked around him and thought to hell with it. He slowly began to pray for those spirits to come to his defense and protect those that he cared for. As he opened his eyes, he saw ghostly forms appear around him. Some stood in armor from ancient wars. He looked around as the bodies of his attackers laid on the ground. One of the ghosts moved toward him and nodded, "We are your defenders, my lord, and we shall protect you in this world and the next." Stefen felt his strength leaving him from the wound he had taken. Slowly darkness clouded his vision as he leaned against the door. He had to look up when the door slammed shut, as he looked into the light blue eyes, he thought that the woman looked like an angel. ******* It took the Royal Convoy four days to reach New Haven. As Artanis rode into the town, she saw her mother standing on the town wall. Alvina watched her daughter as she jumped from her horse and ran to her, "Tan, where is your brother?" Artanis looked at her mother and shook her head, "He and three riders rode into the night. Mother, what is going on?" Looking at her daughter, Alvina shook her head, "The Alliance has moved into the Three Kingdoms. All soldiers are being called upon." As Alvina looked into the rising sun, she shook her head. Her son was out there somewhere and it looked from the sun that blood had been spilled, "Art, I need you to remain inside the castle. With your brother out there and your father about to leave, you must be safe." While looking at her mother, Artanis nodded. She knew that would most likely be the case. She would also have to find something for Lat to do while Stefen was out in the field. "Mother, how many enemy soldiers are we talking about?" Tan asked her mother. Alvina looked at her and replied, "Everything that falls under the Mistress." ****** As the sunlight poured into the room, Stefen had to roll over and felt something warm. Looking over, Stefen found himself in bed with a female human. As he tried to pull himself up, he looked around the room. The female opened her eyes, looked at him and smiled, "Good, you're awake. I must say, your highness, that you put up quite a fight." While he looked her up and down, he began to remember the fight from last night and how his knights were killed. They had came to Hope to protect the townspeople because it was on the border shared by both the Alliance and the Barbarians. "Who are you?" The woman looked at him and smiled, "I'm Demi. I'm what you call the town healer." Stefen nodded as he looked out at the window at the mountains, "How do you know who I am?" "Everyone know who the Prince of Haven is, a Half-Breed that fight for humans and elves, who has the respect of those under his command," Demi replied, "and who will stare into the eyes of death and make deals for the dead." After standing up, Stefen walked over to the window, "So my men are dead?" "I'm sorry, my Prince," she replied, "they were too far gone." Stefen felt all the emotions of eighteen years coming out. Four of those years were fighting the Alliance. He had seen men die, woman raped, children enslaved. He was tired of fighting, he was tired of killing. Jumping out of the bed Demi walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. She was only twenty-five and she could tell that the young prince was in pain. She held him as he began to cry. (AU Note: I'm hoping for three more chapters.)