Author’s Note: This is the first chapter it’s a completely new chapter. In the original first chapter to this story I had titled it ‘The Enchantress’ and basically started it off right after the Dark King took over Alexandria. I needed to elaborate on this battle and really go into full detail with it. This chapter introduces the characters of the Dark King, his Generals, Miles, and his own General Alexander. Please I beg of you readers to remember that this is an epic and so means the story will be long and drawn out. Every small detail will be focused on and spoken of. So I hope you will enjoy and come back for more.

LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
awing the earls. Since erst he lay
friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
till before him the folk, both far and near,
who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,
gave him gifts: a good king he!
To him an heir was afterward born,
a son in his halls, whom heaven sent
to favor the folk, feeling their woe
that erst they had lacked an earl for leader
so long a while; the Lord endowed him,
the Wielder of Wonder, with world's renown.
Famed was this Beowulf: far flew the boast of him,
son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.
So becomes it a youth to quit him well
with his father's friends, by fee and gift,
that to aid him, aged, in after days,
come warriors willing, should war draw nigh,
liegemen loyal: by lauded deeds
shall an earl have honor in every clan.
Forth he fared at the fated moment,
sturdy Scyld to the shelter of God.
Then they bore him over to ocean's billow,
loving clansmen, as late he charged them,
while wielded words the winsome Scyld,
the leader beloved who long had ruled....
In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel,
ice-flecked, outbound, atheling's barge:
there laid they down their darling lord
on the breast of the boat, the breaker-of-rings,
by the mast the mighty one. Many a treasure
fetched from far was freighted with him.
No ship have I known so nobly dight
with weapons of war and weeds of battle,
with breastplate and blade: on his bosom lay
a heaped hoard that hence should go
far o'er the flood with him floating away.
No less these loaded the lordly gifts,
thanes' huge treasure, than those had done
who in former time forth had sent him
sole on the seas, a suckling child.
High o'er his head they hoist the standard,
a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,
gave him to ocean. Grave were their spirits,
mournful their mood. No man is able
to say in sooth, no son of the halls,
no hero 'neath heaven, -- who harbored that freight!

~Beowulf, Author Unknown

Narrator Intermission

The history of this New Age began by two gods who remained on earth, refusing to relinquish their hold on mortal men. Centuries of blood shed was spilled by one who seemed intent on destroying what the other had found in a woman of light and life. But not even a god could know that a single woman would tame what nothing and no one had ever been allowed to tame before.

Dawn crept over the land, slinking silently across the darkened corners of the earth and spreading its arms to encompass all beneath it. The earths was damp, a thick fog settling over the dense trees, the rising sun overhead struggling to burn through the mists and touch the waiting plains below.

Alexandria stood as a capital city to the northern continent of earth, reigning over smaller regions and the number of people who lived among these lands. The borders had once been well protected, held by soldiers loyal to Miles and his rule after the mysterious death to the former king of earth.

When the attack had come none had been prepared for it. The protection to the northern and southern borders had been strong, but unable to withstand the sudden and brutal attack of several thousands of soldiers. The battles had begun at the same time, planned meticulously to prevent the soldiers patrolling to retaliate and struggle to overcome the legions that had wiped them out in a matter of hours.

With the northern and southern borders both left open to the invasion of this massive army, they had advanced and taken what Miles had been unable to hold. Pouring steadily through the land, war had raged for days as the soldiers of Barakhas had struggled to prevent the invasion of The Dark King. Failure had been certain from the beginning, and so Alexandria had dwindled and fell in the glory it had once been.

In the last hours of his hold on his city, Miles stood overlooking the lands that had once belonged solely to him, lands he had nurtured and held with pride over the passing of the years. On the high walls of the palace, he could see in the far distance the army that would soon attack them with the breaking of the day.

How had it come to this? The thought drifted vaguely through his mind, bringing on a fierce wave of sorrow and despair that he had failed his men. How had the world changed so quickly, and with such a man at its lead? How could he have allowed him to come this far, this close, and take what had been his for so long?

With a heavy sigh, he ran a weary hand down his face, pausing to rub deeply at his eyes. It had been days since he had slept, to worried and overcome with anxiety to be able to rest while his men fought and died by the plans and orders he issued to them. He would gladly fight with them, alongside them, but his own importance in this earth’s future wouldn’t permit it. As well as the fact that his head General refused to allow him near the battlegrounds.

He watched the sun rise steadily into the sky, listened as the day began and his own soldiers prepared below for the final battle. This was their last hope, the last remnant of an army that he had to send out to guard his city. He wouldn’t dare spare the rest of his men, who resided in the southern continent of earth, Korinthos. If the battle was lost, then he would need his men to help protect what little land they had left.

He heard faint footsteps, but didn’t turn to greet who had intruded on his privacy. He listened as the steps came to just behind him, than stopped and the silence fell once again.

“Today is the day.” Alexander spoke, head General to his remaining legion, and his most trusted advisor. It was through Alexander’s stubbornness that Miles was unable to join the battles, and through Alexander that he had lived so long thus far. “If my suspicions are correct, they will attack by noon.”

“Then we have only hours to prepare ourselves.” Miles turned to him, faced the soldier who had seen more battles and bloodshed then any should at such a young age. “Have the women and children moved to the caves near the mountains. They won’t be found there.” He strode from the sight below him, back into the deeper recesses of the palace, and toward the battlements where his men gathered to prepare and gather the weapons that would be needed in their fight.

Alexander motioned one of his men forward, giving him the order to take several dozen men with him to escort the women and children. Once done he joined Miles, who stood quietly watching his men take up swords and shields.

“I’ve already told you you’re not allowed near the battle this day.” Alexander’s voice was tinted with warning.

Miles cocked a dark brow. “It’s always good to take orders from your own General.”

“You’re too important to spare at this time. With the Dark King’s army advancing and murdering our men, it would be a mortal mistake to allow you near where that man will be.” Alexander unsheathed the dagger at his side, toying with it absently. “Take this as wisdom from an old friend.”

“You have a clever way of saying things Alexander.” Miles walked quietly to the outside of the battlements, took one last survey of his land shimmering in the afterglow of the morning sun. “I feel as if this is the last time I’ll see the sunrise from my palace.”

Alexander didn’t answer, choosing to remain silent instead. He felt, deep in his heart, that Miles was right and Alexandria would never be the same. He had grown here from boy to man, had trained beneath Miles’ fathers men, the soldiers of Barakhas. Every skill, every technique he knew he had learned from men who had taught him to be both patient and cunning.

It had been a struggle for him to watch these great men fall, to watch them die as the Dark King took what had been theirs for so long. As the months passed he had found himself to be the one remaining, the one to live on when so many others fell in battle. He wondered if soon his own day would come.

He took the safety of Miles seriously after having been left to his care when his father died. Miles’ father had appointed him as head General of his armies and trusted him to train and lead the men with a strong will and firm mind. And on his deathbed he had asked Alexander to watch over his only son, and to protect him in the years to come. Miles’ father had felt the earth’s government was rapidly changing and soon the sole king of earth would no longer live.

He had a secret plan in his mind to take Miles from there if the Dark King were to advance and capture their lands. He had planned it precisely over the past days and felt it would not fail. He refused to allow his Lord and friend to die like his own comrades in arms had already.

In silence they stood, listening to the sounds of men strapping on armor and weapons, and watched in heavy despair as the shadow that was the Dark King’s army slowly advance.

A misty river of fog drifted lightly across the plains where the Dark King’s legiones were stationed, taking what would be necessary in the fight that would soon litter the fields of Alexandria. With mounting fear and growing aggression, they waited patiently for the plans of battle that their king and his generals presently planned.

Separated from his men, gathered at the edges of the camp and surrounding a small table filled with maps of the Alexandrian city, the Dark King pinpointed where he wished for his generals to gather his legiones and attack the armies of Barakhas.

“Miles will surround himself before the palace with his infantry and cavalry. He will place his archers here,” the Dark King motioned to the map’s outer edges of the palace, as well as the high walls and battlements, “and attempt to take the majority of our front line with them. His army of men is at its end here in Alexandria and he wouldn’t dare risk recruiting more men from his army in Korinthos. The men he has there are the only he would have left after this battle.”

His generals nodded their agreement, the five men standing together and contemplating what lay ahead of them. Gregori spoke quietly into the following silence.

“He’s at his weakest now. This battle won’t last for long.”

“No, it won’t. My plans will make sure of that.” The Dark King’s voice was edged with malice, and with the beginnings of victory. “Gregori, you will take your Appolinarians and go to the south of the palace. Kendrick, you take your Gallicans to the north and remain there. Julius take your Scythians to the west and keep them prepared.” With each order he pointed to where they would station themselves, marking the map before turning to his head General and second in command. “Malachite, I want you in the front with the archers and you’re Centurians armed to fight the front line. You’ll be taking the bulk of Miles’ men, but I trust you and your Centurians to hold your own.”

“We will hold, my Lord.” Malachite spoke with complete confidence in his men.

“And you, my Lord?” Julius asked curiously. “Where will you take your Praetorians?”

“To the east. We will remain there until the battle has commenced and it is time for me to lead them into the palace. While the four of you fight the infantry of Miles, we will take over the palace from within.”

They spoke a few more moments over tactics and the placement of the men before breaking apart. They broke camp, ordering the leather tents that had been staked high for sleeping quarters taken down and strapped to the mules, the fire’s the soldiers had used to warm themselves put out. The four Generals took there men aside and explained what would be expected of them this day, and where they would be as the battle commenced. Young and old alike, they listened to these men they had grown to both fear and respect over the past months.

While Gregori, Kendrick, and Julius prepared there men, Malachite joined the Dark King, who silently stood overlooking the pass through Alexandria over a small hill. The land here was a vibrant green, spread out before them with sections of crops littering the fields below them. Men worked the rows of crops that gave them their daily means for food and shelter, and helped them provide for their families as well.

Malachite refused to remember that as they took each province of land, their advancement meant the reform of these human lives. The peasants would live and work, die and be re-born under the empire the Dark King was slowly building.

They had known one another for years, had grown from boys into men together, and had learned combat skills with one another. And in all those years Malachite had never understood what it was that drove the Dark King’s deep ambitions. He had seen in the early years the drive for more in him, had seen the greed and cunning nature in him, and the slow build of a deeply ingrained power that Malachite had never understood.

He slid a look at his King, studied the narrowed eyes and the concentration in them. He knew that even in these moments before battle he analyzed every last plan he had made, every last detail and anything that may have been left out. The man was clever beyond words and every battle they had gone into had always been won with the most precision.

Deciding he would leave him to his thoughts, he clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder, nodding to him when those dark eyes met his. A quiet understanding passed between them before he turned and strode back down the hill, leaving him standing alone once again.

The sun rose slowly, rising in the east over hills and valleys, over slopes and plains toward the glistening spread of Alexandria. The Dark King listened to the sounds surrounding him, watched with some interest as a single Peregrine Falcon flew overhead, its wings spread out and riding on the currents of the wind, its sharp eyes scanning below for any signs of prey. After a few moments it settled itself on a tree nearby, flapping its wings before sitting still and preparing itself for the wait that would come.

Endymion watched the male bird’s eyes cut over every small detail in the land, watched him sit patiently for a sign of any other form of life to appear. Moments of silence passed, before the birds eyes landed on him.

They watched each other for sometime, studying the other and acknowledging the quiet power each held. Endymion could see in his eyes an almost fear for him, and a deep respect for one who ruled so absolutely. The message that passed between them was of mutual understanding for each who would hunt their own prey this day.

A small bird entered the falcon’s line of vision and he launched his body into the sky, diving straight for the small bird and taking it under his outstretched talons. A small cry was heard before it was quickly cut, and the falcon disappeared with both food and victory.

His own victory would that swift and merciless, he thought with some satisfaction. His own rule would just as precise and ruthless.

He rejoined his men as they set out for the palace of Barakhas, sitting atop his stallion and riding at the head of his men. Surrounding him were his Praetorians, imperial guards to the Dark King. These were men who had personally trained under him, learning every combat skill from him as his four Generals had.

The city came into view and the Dark King turned to Malachite. “Attack at my signal.” His general nodded in silent agreement.

When the palace was five miles within range, the Dark King signaled to his men and they broke off from the front line, galloping to the east of the land and allowing Malachite’s Centurions to take the front. The formation he had outlined earlier was taken, each set of men falling into line and proceeding forward to the palace, where the soldiers of Barakhas stood waiting, prepared for the attack soon to come.

The Dark King led his men to the east, deep into the forest where the cool shade and shadows descended over them. Here he came to an abrupt halt, his men following suit and waiting as he turned his stallion to face them.

“This day we will take Alexandria and drive Miles from the last stronghold he has. This day we will show him the strength our legiones have and the weakness of his own soldiers.” His voice echoed through the quiet woods, his dark eyes studying each of his men in turn. There faces were haggard, lines drawn deeply into there eyes, but the look in them was determined. “I have trained each of you well, and have had each of you follow me into battle. Our conquests have brought us here and our victories will lead us to glory this day.”

He took a moment to scan the earth around them, to listen as his legiones of men neared the city and finally halted, bringing am eerie silence to follow. He could almost taste Miles’ fear, and his own victory soon coming. The world’s way of living would soon change rapidly, with him at its lead.

“Our purpose this day is to infiltrate the palace and take over from within. The Parthicus Guard will slaughter the Barakhan soldiers and we will overthrow their government from within.” His stallion moved restlessly, tossing its head and snorting, great white clouds of frost billowing out. With practiced ease he controlled the massive animal, bringing it back under control, as his voice rose in volume to fill the quiet of the forest. “Do not show them mercy, do not show them fear. They will receive their just cause and be cut beneath our blade! Miles will know fear and death this day! He will feel the crushing blow of our legiones and tremble at our might! Today we will have a Parthican Victory!”

The Praetorians raised their swords and hailed the Dark King, their shouts blending together to rise above and drift through the currents of the wind. The Barakhan soldiers heard this, and shifted with unease on the uneven ground before the palace of Alexandria. Only several hundred feet away stood the Parthican guard and soon they would be entrenched into a battle where only one side would emerge victorious.

With his men holding the line beside him, with the sun finally emerging through the thick clouds and beating brilliantly below, the Dark King unsheathed his sword from his side and turned to one of his soldiers near him. “Send the signal.”

Last Notes: I realize this first chapter has nothing to do with the original that I had, but that’s the way I’ve planned it. This introduced each of the characters, but it went more into detail with Miles, Alexander, Malachite, and a bit into the Dark King. Its also showing the lessening of power that Miles has and the gain of the Dark King’s.

Here’s an explanation of what each of the generals men is:

Praetorians: Imperial Guards to the Dark King, these men are his personal soldiers and fight with him in battles. The Four generals used to be Praetorians until he made them each leaders to his men.

Appolinarians: Gregori’s men, they are from the Germanic tribes in the south and named after the god Apollo

Gallicans: Kendrick’s men, they are from the Gallic legiones and gathered from Italy

Scythians: Julius’ men, they were raised for campaigns in the west and gained distinction serving under him

Centurions: Malachite’s men, they are the main infantry and horsemen, trained personally under Malachite and were raised in the east

If you readers don’t already know this, I’ve been tremendously inspired by the Romans and their way of fighting. It’s an era that has always fascinated me. I’m seriously very into history and never get tired of learning new things. I just wanted to let you guys know that.

I wanted to explain about the beginning before the chapter even starts, where the narrator is speaking. I’m not telling you who is speaking, just letting you know there is a third party watching everything and will every now and then be putting in their piece about what’s going on. If this confuses you guys, I’m sorry, but just try to go along with it.

I wanted to thank everyone who supports this sudden change in my story. You guys make it so much easier to proceed and continue with my plans. Thank you!

Please send any comments or suggestions to my e-mail, or leave me a review with it. The next chapter I will begin working on soon, but first I’d like to update a few of my other stories. ~SailorPerfect