Ardgal yelled out in equal parts fury and defiance as his wind omen threw apart a group of charging Milesians, he vaulted down landing before a troop of Druaidíi desperately attempting to prop up and support the Great Door as it’s frame was being pounded in again and again. Despite their efforts they had failed to stop the Ram. Ardgal wanted to be there at the Gate when they broke through. He had ruled as Leader of the Druaidíi for 221 years and he would gladly give his body now to stem the tide of the men as they powered through. Hopeless or not he must set the precedent.

His thoughts of death and defeat were interrupted as the sound reached his disbelieving ears. To the other younger Druaidíi it was just another horn, a further echo of the demise that awaited them. But to Ardgal it brought him back at once to a distant Battle in his youth and he could scare of thought of a sweeter sound. The distinct blare of the bone horn was yet faint but growing by the second, the call has been answered.

Argdal rallied the remaining Druaidíi around him, bewildered by the premature halt to the Battering Rams storm.

He grabbed Farda, the one chosen to protect the Gate, “Ready them, Battle Formation, Battle formation.”

Farda reacted quickly and began barking out orders, pushing and shoving the stunned Druaidíi into position.

Ardgal climbed back once more to the City Walls, stood there was Michaél, an arrow had implanted itself in his left shoulder but he seemed to not have noticed such was his focus on what lay beyond.

“They’ve come.”

From all around them the men’s reserve, until now still held back at the forest's edge, was being levelled by the charge. The Giants were an awesome sight when in full flow.

In full armor wielding their great axes, maces and warhammers they came bounding through the men’s flummoxed lines rampaging into their dazed, desperate formations. With them came their Daeden, the huge boars they used for food, farming, and war. They were the first through the men’s lines and came charging onwards to the men gathered already underneath the walls. Two came directly for the Battering Ram. The despairing arrows of the Men proved little more than a nuisance to the Daeden as they crashed into the Ram completely overturning it and the Men still inside.

Down below Farda had got those Druaidíi down by the Gates in order and they stood ready in Battle formation, “Open the Gates.”

By now the Giants had reached them and along with the Daeden were busy dismantling the men and their covers beneath the wall. Trapped by the oncoming giants and their Boars to the front and a rejuvenated counter by the Druaidíi to their back and with no sign of any help coming from the their reserve,still busy reorganising and dealing with the ruins of the charge, the men had no choice but to call a rushed retreat.

The sight of the men scrambling to fall back seemed as sweet to Ardgal as the first sight of the sun after a long Winter’s struggle.

The Gate, or at least what was now left of it, was let open just enough to allow the Druaidíi gathered to give further encouragement to the men as they made an unorganised retreat back to their reserve, Ardgal saw Dagda leading the charge his claíomh a blur as he swung it again and again all around him felling any unfortunate enough to be in his path.

It did not take long for the men to be cleared from underneath the wall and once they had been sufficiently routed, Druaidíi, Giant and Daeden alike retired back inside its Great Doors. Seeing the main of their force pushed back into retreat and the Battering Ram conclusively destroyed, those men still attacking the walls on its East, West and South sides soon followed suit, retreating back to the safety of their encampment.

Ardgal breathed in heavily his mind a blur. Clad in their formidable armour and savagely wielding their colossal weapons, the Giants and their great Boars had seemed an army as they poured down upon the men. As they came through the Gates Ardgal realised their true numbers and the brilliance of their charge. There was but 6 of both the Giants and Boars, yet their strength and power made up for so few numbers, yet still, it was the surprise and swiftness of their attack which had combined to such effect to allow them tear through the Men’s encampment. Wisely they had chosen to continue their charge to link up with the Druaidíi inside. Even with their battle prowess, not unlike the Druaidíi the men’s sheer numbers would have overrun them once they had been able to adjust.

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Right now none of that seemed to matter.

Down in the courtyard the Druaidíi were welcoming and rejoicing with the Giants as they would long lost brothers. Dagda bravely jumped upon the back of Aardfheall, his delight causing him to forget that he had leaped upon the back of a 14ft Giant killing machine who had just moments ago been mercilessly tearing apart men with his huge blood covered warhammer. Fortunately his blood lust seemed to have abated enough for him to laugh along with him.

The relationship between the Druaidíi and Giants was as lengthy as it was complicated. But with the continuing dominance and spread of the men they had long ago been brought together through necessity and a grudging respect for the others’ traditions and values. Or they had initially at least. Their ancient rivalry put to one side they had fought many wars as one, both against the Partholóns and the Milesians. They had shared a common foe, that had brought them together, but their connection had grown as their alliance did also, each new battle, each new war edging them ever closer to the other.

That they had come now at a most dire time was a testament to the growing importance of one to the other and a sign that their relationship had gone beyond some wartime alliance. The years had not been kind to neither the Giants nor the Druaidíi, but out of the greatest storms comes the strongest roots and their union was now one borne of friendship.

Ardgal made his way over to Aachfheall and embraced him warmly, “The first Giants to step foot inside Dún na Rí’s doors in over a 1000 years. I can hardly think of a more fitting entrance, perhaps we should have invited you back earlier.”

Aachfheall laughed, “The men seemed quite eager to get inside, we figured we would find out what all the fuss was about. Although I fear we may have cut in line.”

Ardgal smiled widely, “Come, I have given up feigning to know the minds of men but I believe we will have til morning's light at least before they come knocking once more. What of you? Here to Oileán Cloiche is no short journey.”

He led the way down the main street trying not to linger on the broken and battered houses of the city as he passed. Later.

“Even you will have room aplenty in The Great Hall and we will see to it your Daeden are cared and sheltered for in the stables. We have yet much to organise and guards must be maintained but I will speak with you at the earliest opportunity. And to you and your people I offer our thanks, from all of us Druadai, one day by the Gods we will return the favour.”

Aachfheall shook his head softly, “There is no favour to return, indeed it is us which were in your debt. Had your warning not arrived in time I fear we would have been caught unawares and our last Home taken from us. As it was we were alerted just in time, the men were found cunningly making their way up Carrountohill’s steep side, away from our watchers eyes, from there it was no great feat throwing them down as they approached, vulnerable and open. Which is what we would have been if not for you. The Giants do not forget such acts easily, we will stand with you against the Men, come what may.”

Ardgal nodded his head gratefully, “I am glad to hear you say as such, for we think likewise, only together can we survive and rebuild anew, the Men will not rest until not one but both of us and our people are put aside.”

Ardgal placed his hand on the shoulder of Connor stood next to him, “For now rest, I shall come to you later, Connor here will remain here to ensure you have what you need.” Aachfheall bobbed his head and began giving out his own orders to his people.

Ardgal turned and made his way outside to where a small crowd had gathered awaiting his address. He cleared his throat and mind, “Though it is unlikely after such a retreat, it does not mean it is impossible the men will not risk another assault on our walls, keep your guard up and maintain the watch. Repair as best you can what you can.”

He lowered his voice, “To those Druaidíi that have fallen, have them brought down to the vaults. We have suffered losses and we will suffer more but we are Druaidíi and we do not falter.”

A lone voice shouted out as they began to disperse. “And what of the Men’s dead? What is to be done with them?”

Ardgal paused. Of their number there were many. Dagda moved up beside him, “Have them hung over the battlements, let the men see what befalls those who brave our wall. Even as they climb to join them.”

Ardgal nodded in agreement. Dagda was overtly creative in his executions, but it would have the desired effect. He knew how to make a statement.