Lettre #1

to be included within the story titled "The Albigensian Chronicles" Written in a field south and west of Narbonne 17, Septembre 1216

Chere  Mamere et Pere

        How does on describe a battle? The overwhelming exhilaration felt at the sight of infantry closing, the anticipation of that roar, like  a strong wind through a forest, like teeth gnashing together as steel strikes steel or shield; horses prance nervously, pinions, gonfalons, banners snap in the wind, early morning sunlight glances from bright armor.

  War! Love! Both heighten the senses, bring a keen awareness of being alive, the world moves with astounding speed or slows to a snail's crawl, the senses are confused one feels with the eyes,  hears through the hands, limbs take on a life of their own. The shield arm moves to deflect an unseen blow, the sword arm senses an opening in the foe's defense. A mere touch brings a shudder of aniticipation like a lover responding to a caress.

   We charge, our infantry opens to let us through, my sword flails up, down, up, down; in my mouth the taste of salted herring predominates, wind whips my face, tears through my hair, roars past my ears. I hear a jumble of sounds, a din made by souls in hell!

   Cries, yells, screams of pain anger, triumph, through a veil one sees men writhing on the ground, blood gouts from wounds melds with the dust creating a morass of crimson mud. Screams of the wounded, the dying mingle with those of triumph.

  Did you realize that there is no difference between the screams of the dying and the yells of triumph?

  Those beautiful horses prancing in nevous anticipation this morning now run riderless, maddened by arrow wounds, blood stench, some with their entrails dragging through the red muck.

 A suden quiet  settles over the field, is it finished? The battle won/Lost?  Who knows?

  I am alive, unscathed, three corpses lie mangled beneath my horse, how came they to be there? Why am I standing? My sword drips red. I remember only the wind in my face.

 

Your Son

 Raphael.

Reviews

[Angela]

My heart is aching. Makes one wonder if you have ever been through a battle Robert. Scares the Hell out of me for my husband. I know not so eloquent. "Do you realize their is no difference between the screams of the dying and the yells of triumph?" Very disturbing, but truthful acknowledgment. Thank you for the read.

[Vanessa Rico]

I am glad that I took the time to go back to the beginning of these letters. They are simply brilliant. You obviously have done your research about this time period, as well as the psyche of those in the war. I will put letter 2 in my general reading! Great beginning!

[Tate Morgan]

war the demise of humanity .Sad that we are the only specie to constantly hunt and kill our own

[Valentine]

Very well written and so good to read..why not try writing a book..Kathie

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Historic and accurate to the story line, well done, good read.

[Robin]

I am enjoying this love history and your imaginative look at it .