The Reborn King

Alfred lay in the dirt. He wondered how his life had accumulated to being headfirst in the ground in a forest, waiting to ambush over a hundred men. He looked down the ridge to the other side. Despite at least ten men lying there he couldn't spot a single one. A small chuckle escaped his mouth thinking about how Charles had outdone himself. He was glad the man was on his side and not Micheal's for if it was the whole forest would already be lost.

'Kaw, Kaw.' The sound of a fake bird came from the distance. Alfred tightened the grip on his bow, readying an arrow. The men around him did the same. The signal had been given to announce the approaching convey. Slowly, it made its way past him. He squared his eyes and watched, waiting. 

"NOW!" A voice exploded in the silent forest from his right as the sound of a tree fell. It crushed a horse, sending a great cry out. Alfred jumped into action. He and his men unleashed a volley of arrows into the disorganised convey. Tens of men fell in an instant as another volley was unleashed. Once again, more fell. The surprise was gone as the Commonwealth troops quickly organised themselves. 

"Enemy attack!" a soldier cried as they quickly shielded themselves from the ridge. One more volley fell without results. He knew the first phase was over, and he could only wait for the commonwealth to make their move. The battle turns into one not too dissimilar from Alfred's past world, only being fought with bows instead of guns. The soldiers ducked in and out of cover, firing shots at one another. It went on for a couple of minutes. Casualties were minimal on Alfred's side, with only one man being injured. The Commonwealth soldiers could see the poor situation. They re-organised themselves into a thin line. "Charge." The commander gave the call as the men charged up the ridge.

Alfred couldn't see the prize target despite the plan going the way he wanted. Micheal hadn't shown himself. Still, he couldn't let this distract him. They edge closer towards his position. A couple of men behind Alfred waited, holding a long rope. The calculations ran through his head as time seemed to slow. "NOW!" With his call, the men pulled the rope. A series of stakes rose, impaling the charging soldiers and blocking their charge. A melee broke out between the two, with Alfred swinging his sword down. 'Come on, Charles.' He quietly muttered under his breath, swinging his sword and killing another. He knew the stake wall wouldn't last forever and needed to retreat soon. 

Charles lay in the dirt, watching everything unfold. 'A little more.' He had one chance and didn't want to mess up the timing. He knew every second put the men at risk, but an early charge would kill everyone. "NOW!" The ten men jumped up. A couple shot arrows into the back of the opposing soldiers while Charles and the rest destroyed the carriages carrying supplies. Not expecting an attack from behind, the Commonwealth soldiers fell into panic. They didn't know how many were behind them, and the fear of an encirclement caused morale to plummet. 

Those at the back turned and charged at Charles's men. They ignored the orders from their superiors, wishing to escape. Charles saw it and signalled the retreat. The ten men ran into the forest with haste. Charles threw one of his axes, splitting a man's head before running. Alfred saw it and called for the retreat as well. Those on the hill turned and ran, leaving the dead and wounded for themselves. He knew what might happen to those, but he couldn't put the entire squad at risk for the few.

Alfred ran deeper into the forest but slowed, hearing a voice scream from behind in rage and hate. "ALFRED! YOU DEMON SPWAN! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU AS A CHILD AND SAVED THE WORLD FROM YOUR EVIL! YOU WILL LEAD US ALL TO BETRAY SOL IN THE END, YOU DEVIL!" Micheal's hysterical scream erupted throughout the forest as he fell to his knees, clutching his head. Alfred looked at his uncle through the tree line, seeing the frail man destroyed by his own mind. His eyes were cold; however, he could not sympathise with him, for he brought war to his Kingdom. One look was all he gave before running again. He knew he couldn't linger as the Commonwealth soldiers easily made it up the ridge without the Kingdom's resistance.

The darkness had set. Michael sat in his tent, his eyes full of hate and paranoia. The soldiers surrounding him looked on with fear as a dark aura surrounded him. "135 men. 135 men." He kept muttering to himself before breaking into hysterical laughter. "You're all useless. Unable to kill that thing even when he prevented himself from us." He broke into laughter again. The soldiers around clenched their fists, unable to act. Despite Micheal's now small frame, he still gave off the aura of a seasoned warrior. "Not only that, he killed most of our men. Fucking useless all of you. Those who died more so." 

"Prince, I can't allow you to insult those who died." A brave soldier spoke up, unable to take the humiliation anymore.

Micheal shot him a glare that pierced the soul. "Silence. Do you understand the situation?" He stood up, putting himself into the face of the soldier who spoke, "We have failed. We don't have the resources to complete the encirclement on the hill. We can only kill that thing now. Or we all die at Snowid's hands." Everyone gulped but nodded. They understood the grim reality and knew they only had one chance now. "Leave all of you." Micheal dismissed them before sitting back on the chair, putting his hands on his head. 

His eyes turn from hate-filled to sadness back to hatred. "Brother. Why did you let that thing live after it stole my dear friend? For that, I can never forgive you." He quietly said to himself as he thought about his oldest friend, Alfred's mother.