Lands of Darkness

[Easthaven I]

Thank you both for the compliments. This installment took me a while to write...

[TheDarkCavalier]

This story is REALLY good, the battle scene is just awesome ...

(chants) GO RUSSIA! GO RUSSIA! GO RUSSIA!

[Easthaven I]

Thanks Cav.

THe next installment should be up by the end of the week, so don't change the channel!

[Easthaven I]

Lands of Darkness

Healing wounds, Band of brothers
September 12th /13th 1468AD
Persian Camp

It was a dark night. Hours had past since sun down, and everybody hovered around their campsites groaning, crying, tending to wounds, talking, or sitting in stone stillness. The rain had softened greatly to a mere sprinkle and allowed the poor soldiers on the ground to build their campfires. A few parties were sent out to recover some Persian bodies. One of those recovered was General Mazaeus, his chest was a pin cushion ridden with darts…

“He was a good soldier.” Borio said, remembering old memories he’d shared with his buddy. Emir nodded in agreement, both staring deeply into the campfire.

“Persia has lost one of its sixteen Immortal sons.” Cornelius had said once he received the news. He, Hasduman, Belisarius, Borio and Emir, Datis, Marion, and Otto together buried their old friend despite the wounds they carried. “One day, we shall build a monument here upon our friend’s grave, in testament to his bravery, courage…and sacrifice.”


Philip was eating a piece of stale bread as he leaned against a small boulder staring into the flames. Pavil sat next to him, his arms crossed and heavy bandage wrapping on his head. He, too, stared blankly. Four other soldiers huddled around the campfire as well.

“How can somebody do this for life?” Pavil finally said, breaking the silence. Philip did not look blankly anymore as he secured a train of thought.

“I’m not sure, Pavil. I fear the day we might have to go through that again. I don’t know if I could do it again.” Philip said solemnly.

“Sure you can. You still fight for Persian freedom and your family as you wished to do at the beginning of our journey. I am the one who did want to go through this, I am the one who will probably fail. My bones tremble when I think of experiencing that bloodshed again. I do not know what I am going to do.” Pavil looked at another campfire in the distance, where Borio and Emir sat laughing at some joke. “How do they do it? For a lifetime…it is unthinkable.”

“I don’t know.” Philip looked back into the flames as darkness seeped into his eyes. “Pavil, I fear I am cowardice. Out there in the fight I did not care anymore for Persian freedom. I did not care even for my family. I was so much afraid I pissed myself. And yet I do not know how I stayed and fought as I did.”

“That is as how I felt, Philip. I have never experienced such fear in my life! I fear I, too, have a spirit of cowardice within me.” Pavil said.

Then a voice interrupted their conversation…

“Niether of you are cowards my young persians.” It was Cornelius, making his rounds again visiting his troops.

He grabbed a log that was in the shadows and brought it within the light of the campfire and sat upon it next to Philip and Pavil.

“The feelings and actions you have described are not the ones of cowards, but of the brave. And you still do not understand what these men fight for when they are out there, in the inhumane realms of bloodshed and mayhem. My young companions, what you have felt is what I felt my first time in battle and to some degree every time in bloody combat. But we never fail ourselves. However strong the urge is to run, we do not…that is what is important. You know why we end up staying and fighting instead of running? Listen closely, we fight wars for our country and our families…but we fight battles for our comrades-in-arms. Do you understand? On the battlefield, you must forget your families at home, your country…your king. For you do not fight for them when you are in the midst of the carnage, do not believe those tales of Hercules or Achilles for they are only fiction. My friends, you fight for each other when you are out there. WE fight for each other. All hold the same fears of death, but in the fighting the fear transforms. We still fear death but not for ourselves…but for the man to your left and right. For the man who is fighting next to you…with you…for you.” Cornelius patted Philip on the shoulder and stood up as he smiled. “Wars are fought for the people. Battles are fought for our brothers.”

He stood for a few seconds, allowing his words to soak. Then he walked away into the shadows.

Philip and Pavil did not speak, nor did they even look at each other for the rest of the night. For during those hours they contemplated the words Cornelius told them and concluded that it was the truth. They realized it wasn’t about the nation anymore, as the Russian army stayed encamped a few hundred yards away. As they held together their wounds, they came to the realization that combat was hell beyond contemplation and they feared its experience every second it was reality but they knew they would never run or forsake their duties, for together they found the courage they hungered for. Together that mighty divine power was ever present, Courage. And they knew that as long as they stayed together, Courage would bind them and link them as one chain. A veteran discovers the secret—a man standing alone is insignificant and incapable of valiant heroic actions but a band of brothers standing defiantly together became the heroes and demi-gods of the fairy tales. Within this band each individual strove to preserve the life of the man next to him instead of their own. And this is what made the chain, this bond, strong and resilient beyond the realms of man. This is what courage and bravery was all about. THIS was Honor.

[Tempor]

Just my penny worth of thoughts...

I am quite new here, but I must say that this piece of fiction is the best I've read so far. The last time I was held in awe to this extent was at the battle of Minas Tirith when the Ringwraith King faced Gandalf at the Gates. Ok, I am exagerating here, but I guess you get the point.

The story is excellent East. I hope you find the time to finish it.

I have also read "World at War", and I am still waiting for you to finish it.

Love the quotes from ancient texts. Love the script. Love the characters. Love everything.

Maybe you could give as a few more scenes from the Russian camp. What are they thinking of the battle? How do they take their loses?

Please continue...

[Easthaven I]

Thanks Mr. Tempor man! Comparison with Tolkien is quite the compliment, whether it was exaggerated or not.

I will write some scenes with more Russian personal involvement and characters and such.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep the goods rollin', just keep the feedback comin'.

Anyways I'm glad you enjoy both my stories and sooner or later both will be finished. Just keep reading, bro, for continue I shall.

[Paulypav]

Phenomenal. Without a doubt the best story I have read so far and I though World at War was pretty good. I have just spent a great deal of time with my eyes glued to the screen reading installment after installment.

You have developed your characters well and your use of language is excellent. Keep up the writing

[Tempor]

Originally posted by Easthaven I
Anyways I'm glad you enjoy both my stories and sooner or later both will be finished.

Well, I hope you finish them sooner than later... It is either that or I shall force labor you to finish a domination victory in PTW in Deity level, extra huge map, 32 civilizations!! Oh, did I mention before AD??

Go on!! Write!! I'll even bring out the cheerleaders if it helps you!

[Tempor]

Hey??

Were is everybody? Did the cheerleaders threaten you or something? Or am I being politically incorrect??

Where is the rest of my story?? I have my popcorn, my drink, a fine couch and NO STORY!!

[unscratchedfoot]

Dude, you really put a lot of work into this. The addition of the battle map was a nice touch. Keep the goods coming.

[Matthijs]

Keep'm comming! This story is just simply brilliant

[ChrisiusMaximus]

East this is pure genius, please give us more!!

[unscratchedfoot]

I might write another story, I don't know. I have a new Bush story in the works but I was thinking of finishing off my Taranto story just for the hell of it. The winds of change story ran out of steam.

[History Guy]

[ChrisiusMaximus]

I'd say its about time we had some more