Chapter 37: Liam's POV

Here we go! The moment we've all been waiting for!! (Kinda)

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It took a while to get everyone moving. We split the small army into groups, squadrons almost. Each "commanded" by a different one of my trusted advisors. Viserion, Myshica, Renate, Kate, Reid, and Amber. Reid would handle the strategies and would be in charge of the medic team since he had a little bit of experience from Terrona, who used to be a small town physician. Kate and Renate would lead the experienced warriors, and the dragons would be in charge of the common folk. While they organized their troops and gave them the rundown, I handled the rest of the people that either couldn't or didn't want to fight.

I made sure the children all had an adult with them, and the elderly, wounded and disabled were comfortable. As for the rest of the people, if they were able bodied, they were helping. Whether they were delivering supplies, carrying messages or helping get in some last minute training, they were everywhere. I threw myself into as much work as possible, ordering people around and checking on everyone I could. It helped quiet the swell of anxiety in my chest.

"Your majesty!" Someone calls. I turn around to see one of our scouts sprinting towards me. "My Prince! They're here!" He says, his eyes wide. No...already? Its only been a few hours. They can't be here already, can they? I stand there frozen, my heart beating so fast I can hear it, my blood roaring in my ears.

"Your majesty?" He asks, his chest heaving. "What do we do?" Someone nearby asks. The news spreads fast and soon every pair of eyes in the area is turned to me and a hush falls over the bustling camp. I can't move. I can barely breathe. What to do, what to do, what to do?

"Everyone that is not fighting must leave, now!" V's commanding voice fills my brain, snapping me out of my panic. "Are you alright, son?" The dragon asks, hopefully in my mind alone. I look up and spot him on the other side of camp, his parental eyes holding concern. I take a deep breath, letting the comforting and familiar presence of him in my mind calm me, as it had done for the past 6 years. Finally, I look back up at him and nod once, confidence flowing into my veins. You must be strong for Sage. Just until she gets better. You can do this. Viserion nods back, smiling, and turns back to his work,

I search the crowd and find the physician giving Reid's group some last minute training. I call for her and she looks up, her wise eyes stable fortresses. "Get the people not fighting out of here. Keep them safe until the battle is over." I tell her.

She bows low at the waist. "Of course, Prince Liam. I will protect them with my last breath." She stands, offering me an incredibly rare smile. "It has been an honor serving you and your sister, and watching you grow into such an extraordinary leader." Before I can open my mouth to respond she turns away and disappears into the ground, her raspy voice commanding those I have put her in charge of. I stand there for a moment, letting her words sink in, before I turn back to the rest of the people.

"Find your group leaders!" I yell as loud as I can. "They will organize you and give you your jobs!" Immediately people start running towards the areas we had assigned them. I turn to go find my friends and stop in my tracks. Various animals stand in front of me, predators, prey, animals I've never even seen up close. I freeze, staring back at them.

"Ah! You came!" Elric exclaims, running up to me.

"Uh, Elric, who are these?" I ask, staring at the couple dozen creatures.

"I'm a messenger, as you know, so i have to make friends all over the kingdom. And that includes other creatures. I sent out a distress letter a month ago, asking for help, and they came!" He says, embracing one of the rats and reluctantly patting a mouse's head.

"We are at your service, your majesty." A cat drawls, its tail flicking as it bows its head. The other animals follow suit, even the dangerous animals like the wolves, big cats and- is that a bear? I blink a few times, trying to process this. I've gotten used to rodents talking but other animals? My brain can't handle it.

"Do they all talk?" I whisper to Elric. He laughs.

"No, just the rodents and Milou, that cat. I taught her English. No one else can speak, but they understand you" He answers. I nod distractedly. "Tempus decimated their habitats, and Ivar and Ivar's father supported him, so they all have a bit of a grudge they wish to resolve." He explains.

I clear my throat and I look at the various animals. "W-well then, welcome to the army, i guess. Elric, are you comfortable taking command of them?" I ask, looking down at him. He nods. "Alright then. You answer to him, understand? Take commands from no one but him, me, or any of the other group leaders And uh...fight hard?" A cry of various roars, barks, growls, squeaks and hisses sound from the group and I turn away from them, shaking my head to clear it.

The people (and animals) organize themselves surprisingly quickly, and within a few minutes seven different groups are formed. I lead them to the spot we decided to defend from, the opening to large field just in front of a wide river. We would have the advantage of tree cover, and we knew the land better than Ivar. And Ivar would have the disadvantage of not being able to retreat. We also had the high ground, at the top of a hill. I stand at the crest of it, looking down at the snaking river, and just past it, the marching army coming ever closer. If you were quiet enough you could hear the sound of their marching, the squadron leaders calling cadence.

I take a deep breath and turn back to my small, ragtag army. My hands are shaking violently, but I clench them into fists to stop it. Sweat forms at my forehead but I ignore it, choosing to look calm and collected in front of my people.

"You know what to do." I say, my voice wobbly and sounding as if a boy spoke it. They don't need a boy to lead them, they need a Prince. So, I take another deep breath, and, closing my eyes, imagine that Sage is standing here instead of me, and I envision what she would say, how she would sound. She would be a leader, so that is what I have to be too.

"You have all been briefed on your job, what you should do and how you should act. Commander Kate and General Renate's teams will take the front lines along with Elric's group. Then it'll be Viserion's, Myshica's and Amber's teams. The second three teams are to offer long-range support if they can, and should only engage if the enemies break through the front lines. You guys aren't trained warriors, so you shouldn't act like it. Be careful, be smart, and don't try to be a hero. You already are one just by standing here. Commander Ried's team will hold up the rear, since they are the medics. Do not engage the enemy unless it is absolutely necessary. You all must only go into the battlefield when you deem it safe to do so, and only be there long enough to care for the wounded, then get to a safe distance again. You are our last defense, so stay here on the top of the hill and take the wounded up here too. It'll be easier to defend and will keep you as safe as possible."

I take a deep breath, looking at the people who look so hopeful. Almost none of them hold actual weapons, most of them dull axes used for chopping wood, or fire stakes, or heavy branches or large rocks. Some have bows from hunting with only a few arrows, and only the half a dozen able-bodied knights left actually have swords. I look over them, the warriors, the townspeople, the dragons, the animals, even Sage's horse, have all come here to fight for their home. The least I can do is try to keep them alive, even if I wont be at the end of the battle.

I look at V and Myshica who butt heads, closing their eyes and saying some final encouraging words to each other. Kate swings her sword around, testing its balance for the hundredth time, and offers me a firm head nod. Renate embraces his mate, kissing him on the cheek. Reid offers me a grim smile, and Amber finds my eyes, her previous cuts almost healed.

"They're scared. Inspire them." She says in my mind. I nod, once again envisioning what my big sister would do.

"My people!" I yell, gaining their attention once more. "The time has come. I am so, so sorry that you are being forced to fight for the very right to keep your home. The people we fight are well trained, well disciplined, fighting machines. They are bred for war and act under the orders of a Prince they fear. But due to the fact we have one of their former soldiers fighting amongst our ranks, we know they are everything but loyal. And that is why we will prevail. Even though I don't understand why, you are loyal to me. You're loyal to my sister, you're home and your kingdom. I have not been in this world long enough to watch wars be waged, but I know that in the world I was born in, many armies made up of people not so different from ourselves, against odds much like these, won. Simply because they were fighting not under the order of a commander, but because they believed in something. I may not have been born here, but New Eladea is my home. You are my home. I may not care about the castle and the town we have left, but I do care about you. And you are in danger. So by the will of the goddesses I will fight for you with my last breath. Ivar has taken much from us, from me, and I will see this through to the end, no matter what that may be.

"You are farmers, tradesmen, messengers, knights, warriors, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons. You are fighting for your home, your families, and your very right to live without being hunted down like dogs. You are fighting for your right to survive. And this is what will bring us to victory. This is what separates us from the mindless soldiers marching towards us. We are more than an army, we are a family, we are a people, we are one. We are more connected than any amount of training could make an army of strangers." I take a deep breath. There is not much left to say. Did I do good?

"It is better to fight and die than to live in fear, and without hope. Know this in your heart and believe it." I glance back and see the army almost crossing the river. It is time. "It is ok to be afraid. If anything, it is a testament to your bravery. Each and everyone of you are as brave as they come. It is time to fight, my friends. I wish you luck, and may the goddesses witness us, and have mercy."

A cry of support rises from the ranks and I take a deep breath, nodding to them, before turning around to face the coming army. Half of them have crossed the river, and they seem to just be spotting me, their commanders pointing my way. I take sight of Ivar, the pompous man literally on a high horse. Anger boils beneath my skin, but I still make sure to try to resolve this with words.

And there, at the top of a hill, leading a group of perfectly normal people, an ordinary boy became an extraordinary King.

And deep in the forest, far away from the marching soldiers, on an uncomfortable cot under the supervision of an old physician, an ordinary girl was still sleeping, but a noble Queen was waking.

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We're so close to the big battle! I know I keep teasing you but I swear it's gonna come soon lmaoooo

Anyways, thoughts? Theories? Predictions? I love to hear them guys!

Cya next week!!