Chapter 1

Chapter two of Battle for Katharine! I know it took so long!

 Chapter 1

The sun's hot rays fell down onto the already dry and scorched land, the trees had long gone brown and lost their leaves, yet the sun neglected to give into the cold weather that was meant to take over by this point in time.

A lone field of wheat stays brisking in the sun while blowing slightly to the soft blow of the wind. It was one of the last to be harvested and was more than ready to be cut down, by its lone owner.

A lone man was the only one working out in the basking hot heat, chopping down the wheat with his old and slightly rusted machete. It cut through the wheat as if it was brand new, and the wheat would then be thrown onto the close pile of the many wheat piles.

The man wiped the sweat from his forehead, catching some of his blonde hair and tucking them behind his ear as he went. He let out a puff of air to help him catch his breath, just as he grabbed the strands of wheat and with a clean cut, threw them with the rest. The man continued cutting the wheat even when he heard the hooves of a horse off in the distance, he didn’t take notice of it and thought of it as just a passerby.

The sound became louder and the man still continued his day’s work. A young collie dog came out of a nearby trail barking and jumping about. The man cut the strands of wheat and throw them down with the others along with the machete. Puffing out another large breath the man wiped his forehead with his sleeve and started to walk over in the dog direction, pulling his leather gloves off as he went.

When the man reached the trail, he came to meet the jumping dog and another man, who also had a horse standing at his side. 

The man was tall and tanned, he had red hair and eyes like a snake. The dog jumped up on the red-haired man, and he let go of the horse's reins and squatted down to ruffle the dog’s fur.

The red haired man smiled as the dog danced around him, while the other man stood and watched. They looked at each other and after a minute they smiled at each other.

“So… How’s the harvest?” The red headed man asked

The other man gave a sigh and a bit of a laugh and turned on his heel toward the field, expecting the other to follow. The redheaded man lets go of his horse's reins and pats him on the neck, signaling for him to go and wander off somewhere around the field - he dog following the horse. The man walks over to the blonde and stands next to him looking over the field of cut wheat.

“The winter’s first snow will hit before I even get to the second field.” The blonde man said

“Then get to it!” The red-headed man said as he slapped him on the back and headed off in the opposite direction of his horse. The blonde just rolled his eyes and pulled his leather gloves back on and went to get his machete. He picked it up and went back to grabbing the wheat and cutting it, then throwing it onto the pile.

The red-headed man had gone off towards an old rusted shed that had no door and was basically just an old shack standing on metal. The man grabbed an old brown bridal and the harness and put then over his shoulder and held them there. He then went over to the better and more stable building next to the shed. Inside was three stalls with only two horses in each and the third empty. He went to the left stall, which held the large size of a massive draft horse.

The blonde had created a completely new pile of wheat by the time the redhead had come out of the stable with the draft horse tacked up and pulling an empty cart. He could only smile as he’s mate helped him out. The redheaded man would direct the large horse over to the closet pile and then throw as much has he could carry into the cart.

The two men continued until the sun had long but set passed the clouds and trees. The draft and saddled horses were brought inside by the two and each given a bucket of oats and fresh water - as was the third horse. The young collie had followed the two men inside the old cottage of a home and obediently sat by the door near his bowl waiting for the food to be served. The blonde and red haired men sat down at the old wooden table in the hall, sweating buckets and puffing out large breaths. The red haired man pulled off his hat and throw it on the table and leaned back and gave a bit of a laugh.

As the two men sat there laughing and sweating, an older looking woman, with hair that was blonde as hay, gray streaking through it and eyes like an emerald. She seemed to smile at the two as she leaned against the doors frame. She held a brown embroidered blanket around her shoulders and seemed to walk with a limp. The redheaded man took notice of the lady and seemed to smile all the more. He stood and went over to her and gave her a large bear of a hug - she was lifted slightly off the ground from their difference in height - and she returned it, just a bit more gently.

“Good to see you again, Athes.” The man greets.

“You as well, Adalis.” She replied with a kind tone.

She patted the man on the arm and he released her like an obedient puppy. She held his arm like a support but still seem strong and dependent. Holding her blanket to her chest to stop it from falling off her shoulders.

“You boys must be hungry, yes?” She asked

The blonde simply stood up and gave the woman a kiss on the cheek and a hug, before helping her out in the kitchen. The redhead had sat back down on at the table and just watched as the woman and the young man walked around the old kitchen putting things together and grabbing bowls and trays.

In less than an hour of conversation chatter and gentle smells floating through the air, the food was placed at the table on steaming plates of wood. Athes placed her blanket over the back of the wood chair and pulls it out for herself before pulling herself closer to the table. She placed her hands out towards the two boys that sat either side of her and waited for their skin to make contact with her. The two boys placed one of their hands each into her two and gripped tightly around her frail fingers. The woman gently closed her eyes and the two followed suit and listened to her soft pray.

“Oh, thank you for this food that sits before us on this table,

Thank you for the healthy harvest,

And beautiful weather that stayed all through the summer months,

Thank you, God Avarra,

For your Protection and skill in hunting,

That we sit here now eating what we do,

Thank you.”

Softly she released her hands from the two boys and placed them into her lap. She watched the young red-haired man say one more pray under his national tongue, before opening his eyes and untangling his fingers. Swiftly they picked up the knives and forts and started to eat their share, small chatter amongst them.

Swallowing the mashed potato in his mouth, the blonde gently placed his elbow on the table and looked over at the redhead - his elbow shortly being shooed off the table.

“So, what are you doing here?” The man asked, causing the other to stutter as he swallowed.

Adalis patted his chest slightly and looked towards him with a look of a ‘long story’. He let out a slight cough and simply let his words flow.

“Well, you both know there was the Kings council just a couple months ago.” He started.

“Who wouldn’t. It was the biggest event, up until a month later when our King was murdered.” Athes spoke with venom in her voice.

“Exactly.” Adalis placed his arms on the table and leaned in like it was a big secret and didn’t want it to get out. “Queen Cecelia’s been in complete disarray since his murder and just a week ago she finally spoke why.”

Athes and the blonde man leaned towards Adalis - Athes swatting his arms off the table, to at least keep his manners alive.

“Luna’s at war. An- and it’s the same with Katharine, Shileen and even Orthest! The Darkon Empire declared war on all of the major kingdoms at the King’s council. Cecelia said that Drakon’s Princess- Queen, whatever you want to call her, sang her song of war. The one that's sung by all the Drakon Empire soldiers before battle.”

“The wilted life.” Athes trailed off, her eyes darting all over the table and bowls.

“That’s right. Eleanora sang ‘The wilted life’ to all the Kings and Queen Cecelia.” Adalis finished.

“That woman’s a nutcase, surely they wouldn’t start a war against everyone else?” The blonde man said with a strict tone of seriousness.

“That woman may be a nutcase but she still has a sane mind in certain areas, especially around war.” Athes explained “If she had the chance she would take it. How did the King of Shileen respond?”

“Cecelia didn’t go into detail too much. But the princess told me that she was impressed and the King refused to enter, but Emperor Endor just basically said he’ll bring the war to him. Least this is what the young princess has told me.”

“Very typical of King Rouva, but why to keep it secret-“ Athes was suddenly cut off as knocking at the door drew their attention away from their conversation.

The banging on the door went silent for a second, then started up again. The collie stood from its spot and growled lowly at the door and supposed uninvited guest. Steadily getting up from his wood seat the blonde hair man walked over to the door and held his hand out towards the handle - he gently shushed the dog.

Softly he twisted the door handle - Athes and Adalis standing behind him - and pulled it open to be greeted with the sight of a rather shorter man with raven black hair, that was cut short and his skin pale and eye’s green like emeralds. He stood a scowl over his face as he stood with his arms crossed as he spoke.

“Is this the residence of Adaies Grayth?”

Author's Note

~"~ IT'S FINISHED!!!!! OMG! i thought I was never going to finish - to be honest with Red Dawn I may have forgotten about it..... ':)