Fighting to the End [PK]

[LeoRabbit99 360]

To those who knew him, word gets out of the death of Giles Curthose.

 

 

A well-built man--about 35 years of age--stood upon the frayed ramparts of Halsworthy near the western gate. He peered off into the distance, the sun just beginning to set over the frosty-spruce horizon. He was attired in the finest forged armors the city had to offer. He looked to his stallion below and it remained bound to a lamp post with a lead, saddled and prepared for its rider. Giles looked back up. Once more, he was called to arms by the Winter Frontier to defend the south from the unknown enemy from beyond the wall. They marched to lay siege to the Temple of Xion, but he was hesitant. 

 

Surely it was not because he was nervous of warfare. Giles was a warrior--not the most skilled swordsman of the land, but he trained to fight ever since the small age of ten. He was reckless and charged headfirst into the fray. He ran down yetis, mounted the shoulder of a molten giant, fought in battles greatly scaled against him, and somehow survived it all. No, it was not because he was afraid of a fight.

 

Giles remembered when he moved to Norland at the young age of seventeen to fight against Renatus, who was responsible for sacking his city. In the years before, he came to admire Norland. Out of all the nations of Atlas, they were the ones who stood up to the villainy of Renatus. He was honored to fight by them. But when he arrived, he came to realize their malevolence. They raided, bandited innocents, and executed unjustly. They were merciless. He came there for a purpose, a noble goal, not to abuse the helpless.

 

It wasn’t long before he chose to abandon the Norland army and return to Halsworthy. They would see him as a deserter and hunt him down, but he cared not. Perhaps the boy was foolish, but his honor was unquestionable. He was tired of serving them and would not participate in their atrocities. It was time to journey home--back to his family, back to his friends, back where he belonged. He could taste the sweet air of home as he approached the border of Halsworthy--but he was intercepted. He was snatched by Norlanders and put to labor in a mine.

 

Five years he endured, his desire to return to his people only strengthening. Day after day, he longed for freedom. When Norland was conquered by Renatus, Giles finally made his escape. Even afterward, he hadn’t found his way back to Halsworthy until he was 32. For almost 10 years, he scraped by in Sutica to live. It was an endless fight for him. His thoughts came back to the present. He watched as troops marched off to battle, but he remained. He would not leave his home again--not yet.

 

He was tired of his self-proclaimed crusade of “righteousness.” He was tired of serving. He was tired of fighting. He was tired of everything. His mind pondered. He could always retire. He could always stop fighting and find solace in a political position in his city. He could live happily with his love and unconcern himself with the pressures of war.

 

Giles began to think of his youth. Why did he fight? Perhaps he had a better childhood than most, but he was no fool. He grew to understand the world’s sins. He saw awful things as a child--things he loathed to be helpless to. He remembered when his friend’s arm was butchered from a passerby from Haense who wanted to steal a horse. He remembered bandits ripping away his friend from her home. He remembered the slaughter of his people when the church “purged” his city. That day he saw dozens of people die, and vowed that regardless of his strength, regardless the odds, he’d never let villainy prevail--not while he drew breath.

 

He thought back to the Temple of Xion. He had visited the temple once before as a child when it was ridden with undead. He didn’t leave town much, but it wasn’t too far off. When he was unsupervised, he and his friend snuck there. He remembered seeing lifeless corpses littered carelessly, people torn in half, and heads displayed ruthlessly on pikes. He couldn’t get it out of his head. People slain and disgraced--their shattered and soulless bodies shown to strike fear into others. 

 

 

 

Giles snapped. He was a boy no longer. He could not afford to be exhausted. He was a Curthose, and he was not raised to give in. “You are a Curthose...and a Curthose never gives up. Now, finish what you started.” The statement rung through his head. His older cousin told him such when he was very young. He could not let his people suffer, not again. No one would harm his people without first walking over his cold corpse.

 

With resolve, he descended the wall and mounted his horse. The group was already ahead, beginning the battle. Giles would not miss it. He set on his helmet and galloped onward, its hooves knocking gravel about as they slammed into the path. Eventually, he made it to the base-camp the frontier had prepared for the assault. They allowed him entry, and he trotted in on his horse. He slid off his mount. Some people of Halsworthy filled him in as a wave of creatures approached, along with their leader. Giles had come just in time.

 

He and some archers began to barrage the attackers with arrows. As their enemies drew near, they were shot dead. A few managed to breach the fortress, but they were quickly expunged. All seemed well until someone fell from the fortifications. He was met with a swift end, bleeding to his death on the snow. Giles would not stand by. 

 

Giles lowered a rope. Many of his people tried to stop him. “It’s no use! He’s done for!” They called. “Don’t risk your own life!” But it was against Giles’s nature. It was his duty to protect the helpless. He landed at the foot of the wall and bent over to rescue the fading soldier. Giles patched his wounds to the best of his ability, but he was never one of medicine. Despite his efforts, he was losing the man. He heaved him on his shoulder and made for the fortress, but the path was quickly blocked by foes. Enemies began to swarm, and death was becoming imminent. He fled from the battlefield but was pursued.

 

The demon who led the forces charged for him. Giles was eventually knocked over, dropping the injured man to the ground. He watched as he fell lifeless in the snow. Giles had failed him. He looked to the commander, drawing his sword. This would be his last stand. If he was going to die, he would do so with honor. “By God’s Virtue!” he roared, and the weapon protruded with flames. The fire raged fiercly as he charged. They collided, but the fight was short lived. After all, what was Giles against a foe this powerful? He was left alone, dying in the snow. He thought of his people, he thought his fiance, and he thought of everyone he loved. He would not be returning to them but at least...at least he lived and died a good man, fighting the fight that needed to be fought until the end...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Three possessions would be given out to the people closest to Giles. In his will, his sword is found on the path where he fled. "Virtue, Sword of House Curthose," would be given to Leofwine Curthose. May it serve him well, and may it bring honor to the house. While evicting his house, Luna Al'Abass would find Giles's old wooden toy sword when he was a child. May it preserve the good memories they had together when he was young. Two rings for Celaena Sylric that Giles was too late to propose with are found in his house. May it remind her of the unbreakable bond they shared.

[Mewliet 452]

Luna Al'Abass would spend many days and many nights in the old house of Giles Curthose upon hearing the news of his death. She slumps down to the floor, leaning her back against the wall with his old wooden toy sword laying across her lap. Tears would continuously flow down her cheeks as she grieved the loss of her adopted son.  "Oh dear Giles. I've always loved you as if you were my own. I never wanted to know what it was like to grieve the loss of a child. I knew this day would come but...I could never prepare for something like this. Farewell oem'ii. I will remember all of our good times together, even the bad ones. I hope you are at peace now."  The elfess would take her cloak off, carefully wrapping the wooden sword with it before standing up. She slowly makes her way through the house of her lost son before making her way out into the woods.

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[Unwillingly 18133]

Cyrene frowned upon discovering the news, lowering her head. "Rest easy, Giles. You've served Sutica well." 

[kingnothing 571]

"I think I killed him once." An eavesdropping ethnic grunted to himself as he heard the news.

[Its_Just_Leap 399]

Ethel Serene had heard news while studying in the Enchantry. She had began the long trip to Halsworthy where she could pay tribute to a boy she helped raise. As she entered she walked the streets of Halsworthy as she did many, many years ago. Hearing of the Giles' death struck a cord in her. She felt grief for the young man she and others in the community had lost. She had lost a lot from her days in Halsworthy, even one of her daughters, and now Giles was gone. In her mind she knew she would outlive the boy by a long shot. She come to terms with the fact that she would have to live with him dying. Though she didn't know it would be so soon. "You were a good kid. . . A natural born soldier. Even though many valah hold that title I'm sure you rose above the rest. I know for a fact that your death wasn't in vain. It wasn't for nothing. That makes you a hero kid. I'm glad I got the privilege of watching you grow into a strong and capable man. May your soul be embraced in the afterlife Giles. I'll see you again some day oem'ii." 

[Chryasor 269]

Rhys sighs heavily as the news reached him and drops his sword onto the ground as he begins thinking back to the battle "I never liked you, you put my friend Celaena in much distress due to your insistence of trying to get into an affair with her, and you seemed a fool. I really wanted to punch you after hearing the stories of how you spoke to her, but, you were still a decent man. and For fucks sake, Cela will take hard to this..." He thinks while picking up his own weapon again, looking the blade over for a second "Another brave soldier dead at the evils of this world. There can never be enough, it seems." He sighs heavily and returns into position, gesturing for the younger Ivae'fenn who brought him the news to continue their training, finally speaking up and saying a few simple words "Don't be a hero once you join us against the enemies of the realm, newbie. Heroes die first."

[Yagami 113]

Harley took a moment to process this news, confused as she was the woman took a short response. "Wait, he was alive?"

[Burnsy 437]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.