“Crrrck!” The mighty stone blasted into pieces four feet from them as it struck a magical barrier enveloping its victims. Eldamire looked to Ginyam and he to Eldamire in search of an answer.

“Standing in one spot makes an easy target for Stone Giants..” came Glamndria’s sweet voice.

“Glamndria!” Ginyam exclaimed with a bow.

“It is good to see you..” Eldamire greeted her with a smile, but it quickly faded. “Our mages are spent they have battled the Stone Giants for hours now and only one has fallen. It would seem we are at a loss here.” he added.

“No… we are not!” Glamndria smiled. She turned her gaze to the North. “See for your selves the loyalties of the free people.”

Eldamire followed her gaze out over the cries of battle and the screams of death and rage. His keen Elven eyes witnessed their salvation and hope far off in the distance speeding towards them.

“Dragons?” he exclaimed under his breath.

Ginyam counted the shapes that sliced through the air to aid them. A dozen Platinum Dragons beat their wings fiercely and in haste once they spotted the battle grounds.

“We are saved…” he said, relieved.

“ They will be upon us soon…AlERT Hauken and his men alert all, we must pull back and regroup.” Eldamire ordered.

He turned to Ginyam with a renewed look of hope. Ginyam turned without hesitation and bolted into a run, leaping over rocks and carnage as he yelled out the orders.

“Sound the retreat…fall back and regroup!” he continued resounding the orders as he ran the ranks.

“Get the men clear…The Dragons will take care of the Stone Giants.” Glamndria assured Eldamire.

“It will still be a tough fight even with the dragons, we are not guaranteed a victory. We have lost so many.” Eldamire confided.

“No…But the hearts of men can change easily. With enough hope they will renew their strength, they will emerge victorious.”

A roar of defiance and cheers of defeat saturated the valley below from the Orcs and goblins as their enemy retreated. They did not advance however, for they had orders of their own. Night-fall was but five hours away. And they believed victory could not be snatched away from them. Soon the draconian would be unleashed.

Hauken made his way up to Eldamire on the hill. Blood stained his clothes and dripped from several small wounds. His breathing was ragged and his limbs ached, but with pride and effort he climbed the steep hillside.

“We have sent the archers around to the South they will be ready within the hour.” Hauken confirmed between breaths to Eldamire and Ginyam.

“The Plats will be here before then.” Eldamire conveyed to the him. “But that will suffice.”

Ginyam pulled up a wooden chair and offered it to Hauken upon seeing his weariness. Hauken accepted it gratefully and plopped down in it glad to be off his feet. Glamndria approached him from the tent.

“Let me tend to your wounds while you rest a bit.” she offered.

“We have mages for that my lady. I would not ask it of you-”

“You have mistaken my words. You did not ask it of me and nor I of you. Now let me tend your wounds.” She said putting his pride in it’s place. The knight obliged knowing better than to argue.

“Ginyam, prepare the men for battle. The Dragons will attack soon and when they do…” Eldamire spoke abruptly.

“What about the twenty archers we sent down the slopes?” Ginyam questioned.

“They are to protect the dragons from any ground assault. That is their objective.”

“Yes sir…and our mages still rest. We will not get much help from them for some time I fear.” Ginyam said biting his lip.

“That is fine. We need them to be fully rested for later. They are not to aid unless it is an emergency of life and death. Understood.” Eldamire replied trying to hide the worry in his eyes.

“YES, my lord.” he answered, then turned to carry out his orders.

“Has word of Tyrell’s company been heard?” Hauken questioned Eldamire.

“Yes…” Glamndria replied as she looked to Eldamire who did not mind her intrusion. He simply gave her a nod out of courtesy to continue.

“They have entered Narsh~Turath. All are well, only light injuries…And it would seem they have acquired some new troops with Tyrell’s persuasion’s. Some of your brothers men had a change of heart.” She said with a pleased smile.

Eldamire returned her smile with his own but his was inspired not by the smile on her lips but of the one that shown in her eyes. Hope stirred in his veins, not only for them who fight this battle but for Men themselves. Hope for the hearts of Men.

Hauken prepared to mount his horse while the others waited anxiously for him to ride before them and take his lead. Satisfied with straps he pulled himself into the saddle. His steed pranced with exhilaration. With the spur of his heel his mount galloped along the front line.

“Listen to me well…I know you have fought hard… I know your limbs grow weary with battle, but do not let your hearts fill with such pains.” Hauken yelled so all could here him.

“Narsh~Tuath has been infiltrated, and the aid of the Great Dragons has come to us. I tell you…That if you raise your swords with your hearts WE will over-come this nightmare and cast out the evil that threatens us.”

Cheers of renewed strength and hope erupted from the men as they readied themselves for battle.

The Dark army began to stir at the sounds of glory carried by the frail wind from across the valley. Braxon shot from his tent disturbed by the sudden uproar. He stood tall and lean scanning the distance as he tried to understand this new arise of hope in his enemy.