The day of arrival for the Festival of Gonjolard brought merriment, competition games, good food, and festivities for the people in the Kingdom. Friends from across the sea came to join in the celebration.
At midday, the festival turned into chaos. Alphonse was freed the night before thanks to Lords Foucant and Toleranz to join in the uprising.
King Hartfelt set his own plan in motion, deciding to ride south, meet Alphonse on the battlefield, and disrupt the SOB's plan to take over the Festival, unaware the plans were false.
Meanwhile, Prince Gawdawfel devised a new plan to deal with the SOB rebellion. He decided to remain in Gonjolard to oversee the Festival. A grand speech was planned to cause a civil war, allowing him to step in and quiet the chaos.
However, his carefully-rehearsed speech didn't go as planned. He ended up a prisoner at his own Festival in the hands of Owin, the true leader of the SOB.
Suddenly, he realized his and his father's mistake in underestimating the SOB. They had broken through to the citadel. How, he couldn't imagine.
But he never once gave a thought as to the fate of his father, King Hartfelt, who left to battle the rebellion.
Now, Part 14
King Hartfelt rode hard under the early morning gray skies as dawn broke. He and his manservant, Sir Gollett, headed South through the dense forest. His army and a rebellion would soon fight each for control of the Kingdom. Some soldiers marched alongside their King, while others followed behind on horseback. The King gave no thought to the Festival of Gonjolard taking place at the citadel. He charged his son with overseeing this task.
That Prince Gawdawfel could handle any situation that arose, the King was confident. That the Crown he represented would be victorious against the rebels, he was certain.
They rode for two hours before reaching the thick of the forest where the tallest trees sat. There, his army lay in wait for the rebels. His commander who'd been sent ahead returned. "Our King, we encountered no rebels. Perhaps they have moved further south or abandoned their plans."
"No!" he growled. "Be watchful of snares." But King Hartfelt's head pounded with tension. The ache in his stomach turned fierce again.
Before the King could continue, Sir Gollett returned from the rear and leaned into him. "Word has reached us that the citadel fell under attack at the Festival from the desert sands in the West. The rebellion plans were false."
King Hartfelt sat ramrod straight on his steed with brows buried deep in his forehead then glanced around in dismay. He may was well have sat on the sword of his dilemma watching the mist thicken, giving him no comfort in his decision. A myriad of strategies raced through his thoughts.
Damn! The SOB is attacking from the East, he surmised, remembering his order to withdraw and reposition his men in the South.
"Spread the word, Sir Gollett. Ride fast before the traitors gather. We'll slaughter them at the shore."
Before King Hartfelt could continue again, a realization came upon him as he glimpsed several men tossing off underbrush and rising from the ground. Some lowered themselves from tree branches. He scoured the forest. The rebels mean to severely weaken my army by engaging on both fronts.
Instantly, Alphonse came into view charging on his steed toward him. Lord Foucant followed closely, his sword high shouting words of victory for the SOB.
With no time to react, the clink of steel against steel and armor came rapid. But the number of rebels were fewer than one hundred. King Hartfelt clenched his fist, nostrils flaring at the sight of Alphonse, the leader of the SOB. His shoulders heaved with fury knowing the young rebel had outwitted him.
As quickly as the rebels appeared, they disappeared from sight. In the Forest Base set up to entrap the King's army, the rebels released the traps at intervals and caught up the soldiers, lifting them from their horses and the forest bed.
"Don't allow him to escape," the King shouted.
King Hartfelt's horse reared up, then turned to pursue the rebels. He and the remainder of his soldiers galloped through the forest pursuing what he believed was the path to the stronghold of the rebellion.
Alphonse and Lord Foucant's steeds galloped swiftly, weaving around trees, avoiding enemy arrows.
Both men smiled as they led the King away from the forest and toward the EastRiver Stronghold. Growing closer, the fighters of the SOB from the north and allies from the East across the sea came into view as drops of rain fell steadily.
In no time, Alphonse and Lord Foucant touched the sands of the shoreline. Glancing out upon the waters, they confirmed the huge fleet had docked only a few feet off the coast.
A week earlier, Lord Foucant sent word across the sea that the time had come for the Order of the Anchored Allies to set sail for the Kingdom of Gonjolard.
Sir Colyne Braille answered the call. Sailing under the banner of the adjacent country of Primholt, east of Gonjoloard, he brought glad tidings and aid to his childhood friend.
Growing up in the Eastern Rune Village as did Lord Foucant, he yearned to leave the farm and make his fortune from the sea. They'd watched the Crown grow more evil as the years passed. Two years older than Lord Foucant, Colyne's BODAR family lost everything when their lands and cottage were destroyed by fire.
At age of 10 and 6, he could endure the harsh treatment of his family no longer.
Half his family swore allegiance to the Crown. The remainder, together with a few other villagers, sold their property to other lords and bought passage to the new country across the dividing waters. Sir Colyne couldn't convince Lord Foucant to leave. He desired to stay and fight for change. How he would do it wasn't yet clear.
He never forgot the friendships in the "old world" as he called it. However, his dislike of Gawdawfel prompted him to keep abreast of the happenings in Gonjolard. A kingdom where freedom did not reign or ring true for all subjects for over a century.
Although he'd abandoned Gonjolard under the old tyrant, his loyalty to Lord Foucant was steadfast by his return answer.
We must act now before the prince secedes to the throne. My new country has moved beyond serfdom. The Kingdom of Gonjolard still refuses to bend to the will of the people. The Crown's arms is many, but they have been weakened by numerous battles this past year. We will stand with the people of Gonjolard who wish change.
Colyn and his crew now waited in the secluded area known as the EastRiver Stronghold.
Keeping a watchful eye with his telescope, Colyn's first mate yelled to him, then pointed as Lord Foucant came into view galloping hard alongside Alphonse.
Along the eastern shoreline of Gonjolard Harbour, to the EastRiver Stronghold, the SOB and their army of rebels close behind advanced toward the seafaring army with King Hartfelt and his fledgling army in pursuit.
The stage was now set as the King's army and rebellion fighters each forged ahead on orders of Alphonse and Lord Foucant.
The King's army froze in horror as they stared into the mist over the waters. Suddenly, the vessels lowered their planks. Hundreds of strange-looking soldiers rushed ashore.
What manner of men were they? From the hull of the ships, strange men emerged. Standing over seven feet tall, the foreigners from the sea appeared as giants, towering over the soldiers of Gonjolard. Their bodies were massive. Their weapons three times the width and breadth. Their armor invincible. If one swing of the gauntlet glove didn't wound us, their morning stars surely will fell ten of us at once, Sir Gollett feared as he scoured the shore from one end to the other.
Source
And Sir Gollett was correct. Fear did not dwell in the strange men from the sea.
King Hartfelt ordered his army to attack. He remained in the rear searching the shoreline for Alphonse.
Sir Colyn's seafaring soldiers overwhelmed the King's army. Standing over a foot taller and mightier in strength, their fighting techniques proved superior. Hand-to-hand combat proved deadly as eyes were gorged out and heads split open with one swing of the axe. One by one, the giant soldiers' short crossbows pierced the enemies eyes, heads, and hearts until none of the enemy in their sight were left standing.
With one sweep of their powerful arms, the allied soldiers beat the King's army into the blood-stained sand.
Rebels led by Lord Foucant came from behind and engaged the remainder of the King's army.
With a lack of confidence in a positive outcome, men once loyal to the Crown shrank back in terror, their faces grim, as they watched more giants emerged from the large sailing vessels.
The King's army was outnumbered and weary. They were weary from the first skirmish in the woods that left them battered and torn. Yet, they continued to fight.
Source
Only two options were left: fight or lay down their weapons. There wasn't anymore fight in them as the gray sky darkened.
King Hartfelt searched desperately for Alphonse, hoping he would be the one to kill him.
The hope he wished for did not come.
From behind, Alphonse jumped from his steed and ran toward King Hartfelt, pulling him down from his horse.
King Hartfelt stumbled, then righted himself, but not in time for Alphonse to step closer, plant his feet squarely, and swing his blade. The King partially blocked Alphonse's attack that landed close to his face. In anger, Alphonse raised his sword high. In that moment and state of mind, he desired to kill him who represented the Crown's oppression.
Alphonse grabbed both swords and pulled King Hartfelt toward him. The move weakened the King.
Raising his hand to strike, Alphonse froze for a second, the let go.
Weary, the King fell panting onto the wet sand. His sword followed. He crawled away, but paused and fell face upward after only a few inches, staring into the heavens. He was spent; no match for the younger man.
King Hartfelt conceded silently that his army was defeated. He conceded that his time on this earth had come to an end. He closed his eyes and waited.
Alphonse towered over him. A broken man. A broken King.
Pity rose up in Alphonse where anger had dwelt.
[to be continued.]
Welcome back to my freewrite prompt story for this week. The photo that is the subject of the story spoke to me about a king either on his way or returning from battle.
Describe what you see.
An elderly king dressed elegantly rides his horse. Where he is going or where he is returning from is unknown. His army trails behind him. Some follow alongside him. The sky is dark with gray clouds. Falcons fly low. A castle sits in the background.
Describe what you feel.
The king is going into battle to defend his country.
Write a story or poem about what you think is going on. I leave with you my story for:
Original PIC1000 Challenge
A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words - 3/22/24
and
PIC1000 Challenge for thumbnail image
A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words - 4/12/24
Image used with permission of contest owner
For your convenience if you'd like to return to the beginning of the "Uprising In Gonjolard" saga, I set out below Chapters 1 - 13:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.
What an intense chapter in this captivating saga! This story keeps getting better and now we see the inevitable fall of an empire and defeat of a once-powerful king, no thanks to Gawdawfel.
I admire the SOBs clever strategy to draw Hartfelt from the citadel so the crown could be attacked from all sides. And that battle scene! The way you place the king's army at uneven odds is interesting. Who knew more help was on the way for the SOBs? The emergence of Colyn and his giant soldiers from the shoreline reminds me of a battle scene in the popular high fantasy TV series, House of the Dragon. It's a prequel to the famous Game Of Thrones.
You depict the battle scene with such brutality that I would expect nothing less of a fantasy story. The end is emotional - we see Alphonse's rage and thirst for revenge give way to pity as he considers the broken king on the ground. Did he hesitate because of their blood connection? I can't wait for the next chapter. Beautifully written!
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I always hoped that Lord Foucant would receive the help he called for when his guard rushed from the Great Hall while he listened to Gawdawfel. I also hoped Colyne would incorporate into the story well as a childhood friend, now a powerful sea captain. Hartfelt's army was scattered and tired from the other recent battles.
The meeting in the South for the SOB was not to engage them fully, but to lure them to the shoreline. It could only work if Hartfelt or Gawdawfel actually saw Alphonse and chased him. Alphonse should have been hung at the gallows. Turned out to be a good strategy for the SOB to use Alphonse as bait. But that was their plan from the start.
I've had this complete story in drafted sections since late last year deciding whether to freewrite or turn it into a more alien art hive project. I knew it was going to stretch over 10 chapters and would be a lot of work at 2K words or more each.
Only one chapter left to conclusion. Thanks for staying with the story. I'm glad you've enjoyed it thus far. I have watched both GOT and HOTD.
I don't think I'll attempt a saga such as this again soon, not after my 6-part Omnipotent Being In Female No. 2 - EUGENIA series last year. and now my 15-part Uprising.
Thanks for your visit, analysis and support. I appreciate it.
These sagas are definitely fun to read, but real challenge lies in the imagination and writing. I'm glad you chose to freewrite instead of alien art 'cause you might not cover as much details as you have. One more chapter to go! Well done! 😄
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Thanks @hispapro for your visit and support of my freewrite series story Part 14. I appreciate it.
I admire how the rebels tricked the King. Even though the King was sure of victory, Alphonse and Lord Foucant led him into a trap. The sudden appearance of giant warriors from the sea made the story even more exciting and surprising. I will need to re-read this interesting piece again. Permit me to save it.
Hello @faithgifty34. Thanks so much for stopping by and viewing my series Part 14. I'm pleased you found it interesting. You can BOOKMARK any post in PeakD to return to it later. Why not start from the beginning Part 1. I feel you'll understand the nuances better.
After the next chapter I compile a collection into all 15 Chapters for easy reference.
I appreciate your engagement and analysis. You are correct, they lead the King into a trap.
Take care.
OH, WOW ... I didn't see all that coming ... but I'm glad that last killing did not happen!
A trap set; executed as planned; and enemy lured to their deaths with the help of friends from across the sea. Well played for mere peasants.
As to the King; well, his fate lies in the hands of one whom he didn't have the courage to acknowledge when learned about.
Choices will have to be made.
Thanks for your visit and engagement. I appreciate your support. Take care.
I grieved for Grandfather Hartfelt when I saw that. I knew he would have to pay for that decision. When we fail to acknowledge truth as it comes because our pride wants certain concessions first ... it can be a terrible price to pay.
Yes, a terrible price to pay because we reap what we sow.
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