I watched as my father paced back and forth continuously, his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes darting left and right.

He was scared.

But I knew what he was worried about.

I had read the reports that scouts delivered to us just a few hours ago.

The ‘Dark Gods’ army was approaching us at a rapid speed.

My father was most likely trying to formulate a plan for us to survive this ordeal.

Our Human allies would be unable to help us because the army that came towards us would easily overwhelm us and that was less than half of the forces the ‘Dark God’ possessed.

The humans were most likely fortifying their border.

We could expect no help from the Dwarves seeing as how they were being besieged by one of the great orc clans.

The beast men we were allied with were too small and weak to aid us and the rest of their kind were allusive and wary.

Of course couldn’t expect aid from orcs seeing as how that was a foolish notion.

Well maybe we could offer the orcs hundreds of Elven females.

Orcs were well known for the lust they possessed towards Elves.

I can only wonder why seeing as how Elves possessed little lust for any other race.

Maybe one of the great clans could be bribed.

But that idea would take too long to be put into plan.

The ‘Dark Gods’ army was approaching and it would take a week minimum before any of the other clans could show up.

Even they, they’d likely betray us and join with the ‘Dark God’.

I looked up at my father, hoping that maybe he had formulated a better plan.

Our military might wouldn’t last against the approaching army and guerrilla tactics would only stall them for so long.

My father had stop walking up and down the throne room and stood still.

The generals and advisors all looked at him with hope in his eyes.

I looked at him with hope in his eyes.

His eyes shined brightly as if he had formulated a plan.

Our king, my dearest father had come through.

King Elvehad: “I know how to survive this ordeal” he said, his hands slowly scratching his blonde stubble.

He moved back towards his throne while all the generals and advisers in attendance beamed with happiness towards my father.

He watched as he reached his throne, turned around and sat down. Moving his long blonde hair away from his youthful face with his left hand, he turned to face us.

King Elvehad: “We can only survive this ordeal with sacrifice” he said, his voice grim, containing none of the usual cheeriness it used to have.

Everyone in the room, I myself included, looked at him with understanding.

If it less us, the Elves survive, than a sacrifice was a burden we could all carry.

Before we could voice our thoughts at what the idea was, my father moved his hand to silence us.

King Elvehad: “The ‘Dark Gods’ army” he said, his voice spiteful “will exit the forest soon, a few more days at best” he said while sighing, but his eyes were resolute and he continued “They will reach the border fortress of Forelve” once he said these words, everyone came to an understanding.

The fortress would be sacrificed; they would receive no reinforcements from the main army.

But that still didn’t explain how the Elven race would be saved.

How would the border fortresses fall save us?

Everyone around me began to murmur my thoughts but my father silenced us once again.

King Elvehand: “Once the fortress falls, they’ll make their way to the city of Shinhel” he told us, making us even more curious as to what my father was planning. Had he perhaps descended into madness because of the stress? But my thoughts were put aside when he continued to talk “Once they reach Shinhel, I will be there awaiting them” he said.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Once he had said this, everyone in the room began shouting toward him, myself included about how we would not let him ‘sacrifice himself’.

This caused him to chuckle before he turned towards me.

King Elvehad: “Calm yourselves and let me finish” he said, effectively silencing everyone “I’m not sacrificing myself, I’m saving Elvenkind” he looked me into my eyes “My son, Derek” he said his eyes filled with sadness “Once the ‘Dark Gods’ army reaches Shinhel, I will be there to welcome them and give them Elvenkinds surrender as I tell them that ‘the Elves never wished for conflict between us’” and once again the throne room broke into shouting as many elves said things like ‘We’ll die before we surrender’ and ‘No filthy dark horde will stop us’.

My father broke into a grin as him loyal retainers attempted to stop him from lowering himself in front of the dark horde but he again lifted his hands and silenced us and he looked at us with love in his eyes.

King Elvehad: “Once I surrender, one of two things will happen” he said, his voice hopeful “The elves will be brought into the dark horde peacefully with no further casualties and be left alone or an example will be made for making them march so far” his voice became soft as he said last line and before anyone could once again break into shouting “No matter what happens to me, do not fight the dark horde” his eyes were stern as he looked over the people in the room “No matter what” he said, his words final.

Everyone in the room went quiet.

Some began to tear up.

Some hit walls or the ground once they sank to their knees.

Others looked at the king, my father with pity and love in his eyes.

I on the other hand sank to my knees and began to tear up at the thought that my father may die.

And for what?

We never antagonized the ‘Dark God’.

We never stood up against him.

We never even talked to him.

Yet why did they have to come to us and butcher us.

To come to us and enslave us.

Why did they have to ruin the beautiful peace we had?

I looked up to see my father walk towards me.

He walked towards me slowly; his smile showing me that he had reached peace with himself.

That he didn’t mind dying for Elvenkind.

He knelt down before me and looked me in the eyes.

King Elvehand: “Don’t cry my son” he said “Not for me” his voice gentle “I have lived hundreds of years and if I am to die than, if at least my death can gain our kind a thousand more years of peace, it will be a worthy trade” and with that he brought me into an embrace.

I will never forgive the 'Dark God'

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*Fidgets nervously*

I've been gone for a long time.....

*takes out excuse sheet and runs fingers across it and sighs throwing the sheet away*

I'm out of excuses as well.....

I'd commit seppuku for your forgiveness.

But then you wouldn't get more chapters.

So all I can do is deeply apologize.

FORGIVU MU PLEASU!