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</div></div><br/>Ariel Lysander, the only heir to the large kingdom of Fahrendeil, had once again found herself out on a battlefield. Despite being young, she'd seen much death already. But she didn't complain, as this was what she knew and it was her duty as well. When her father, King Roland, had failed to bring more heirs to this world; he'd decided that instead of raising the girl as the princess she was, he'd be training her like the prince he'd been praying for. So, there were no dancing lessons or embroidering, no reciting poems or painting landscape pictures. Instead she was trained by hardened generals of the army, taught how to read maps and how to think strategically. Thankfully, she had enjoyed it and embraced it rather easily. Even if most of the nobles frowned and laughed at the idea of having a princess leading the army, they were quickly silenced when she gained her first victory on the battlefield, then only 15 years of age. What she lacked in brute physical strength - she made up with speed, ferocity and agility. And she was quick in proving to everyone that she did not need a cock dangling between her legs to be an intelligent and ruthless leader whilst cutting down her foes.<br/><br/>But it wasn't her swordsmanship or her strategies that won her the love of her men and the people she strove to protect. No, she earned the love and trust through her compassionate, brave and reasonable heart and mind. Unlike her father, she tried seeing matters from both sides. She never judged blindly, never let anyone feel inferior to her despite her highborn status. And she was never cowering in the back of the fight, but rather always found herself in the front; leading the army straight to the enemies. This was the key difference from her father, the cowardly king whom had for the past 15 years hid inside of his castle. He ignored messages from neighboring kingdoms, insulted his advisers and guests. Indeed, he was the sole reason for just why Ariel was becoming a very battle hardened young woman at the tender age of 19.<br/><br/>This time, however, war was not upon the people of Fahrendeil because of the king. An unexpected arrival of orcs had lead to the whole nation's panic. Despite being generally known to be dumb brutes, orcs could be formidable opponents on the battlefield and they were a royal pain in the ass if allowed to roam the land and raid, rape and murder as they pleased. They were strong as oxen and bloodthirsty enough not to care if they lived or died, and seemed to have a knack for stirring up trouble wherever they went. That was one of the reasons for why the humans and elves had once taken up an alliance, many decades ago, and successfully gotten rid of any traces of the inferior race. Honestly, to this day, it had been believed that the orcs had gone extinct. And of course no one had missed them the least bit. But apparently, they'd only been licking their wounds while hiding in the shadows. Creeping back into the deepest holes of the darkest caves, or seeking refugee in the mountains or forests.<br/><br/>A pair of sapphire blue eyes scanned the surroundings while she listened to her army marching forward. 100 archers, 400 footmen, 200 knights, 10 mages. It was less than she had wanted, but more than her father had originally intended for her. The old king was both paranoid as well as delusional, always demanding to have the bigger portion of his armies at home to protect him, whilst he'd gladly send his only heir to yet another warpath. She had wished to at least double the numbers of mages and knights but that was unheard of in the presence of her father. What if she would fail and bring death to the army? What then? Who would then protect the castle and the king? Besides, she was only to take care of a couple of orcs that had been spotted close to Lamswell forest. How many men would she honestly need to dispose of those creatures? Why, everyone knew those hideous creatures were dimwitted and slow. Most likely they'd be fleeing even before the battle begun. So, honestly the king had thought Ariel would only need the archers so that she might let arrows rain upon the filth that would try to flee into the thicket of trees.<br/><br/>The closer to the forest they got, the uneasier Ariel felt. She wasn't the type of a person to believe in ghost stories meant to spook children or young teens. But she had heard<b>many </b>things about the Lamswell forest. How nobody who ventured in there returned alive. Of the unexplained lights and noises coming from within the trees. The old grannies at court wove tales of creatures that only belonged in ones nightmares. Ghosts and goblins and flesh eating spiders, wolves with two heads, griffons, leeches and snakes as long as rivers. Deep, deep near the mountains where the trees were the tallest, the sun couldn't even touch the ground. There it was said magic resided. Good or bad, nobody could quite know because no one that had ventured there had ever returned.<br/><br/>But now, even with the uncomfortable chills that played down her spine, Ariel thought it was starting to make sense. If the orcs had really been alive this whole time, they had probably been residing in Lamswell forest. Meaning, they had killed any intruders and travelers. It was a simple explanation, but something she decided to settle for just so she might calm her own mind. Because if she'd ever show that this mission was getting under her skin, her army would lose heart. She was the pillar that held up their bravery and conviction; for everybody knew that people were simply waiting for the king to die so that his daughter could take the throne. Naturally, it'd be treason to say that out-loud, but the undying devotion and love that was showered upon the young princess gave her enough reassurance that she could one day lead her people back to the good days of peace. Be it through arranged marriage or another war...<br/><br/>"We are almost upon the place where the orcs were seen."<br/><br/>So engrossed had she been in her own thoughts, she'd failed to notice the approaching hoof steps. Magne, her father's most trusted adviser and the oldest mage of the court, was peering his steel grey eyes towards the horizon. Annoyance flared up in the princess's mind, but she managed to push it back and nod curtly. She didn't like Magne, never had, and she'd never so much as entertained the idea of trusting him. Which was why she'd hated the very idea to be forced to take him with her. He was a small man with an ego bigger than the castle they both lived in. His skin was wrinkled, his hair white as snow and thinning. But his mind was sharp and cunning. His words poisonous.<br/><br/>"You seem unwell, my princess. Don't tell me you feel nervous approaching this new enemy?"<br/><br/>The old man's voice scraped against her ears, causing the redhead to grit her teeth. She didn't need to glance in his direction to know he was grinning like the pompous fool he was.<br/><br/>"I'm neither unwell nor nervous, grand mage. Only cautious for I've never encountered orcs before. I would have liked more information about their numbers, their weapons and their leader before heading off into battle."<br/><br/>"Do you mean to say that your father was unwise to send you off so hastily to meet this new enemy?"<br/><br/><i>Old snake. Don't try to test me. </i>A wry smile curved her full lips as she moved her cold gaze towards the mage's face.<br/><br/>"My father wishes to smother the threat before it gets out of hand. There is nothing foolish about that."<br/><br/>And yet, she did indeed think it was stupid to face someone you knew nothing about. On a battlefield you'd never entered before. There was no telling if she'd be meeting a handful of unfortunate, brainless creatures that'd get wiped out in a matter of minutes by her army. Or... if she'd be meeting a horde that would greatly challenge the number of her men. With a swift movement, she snapped closed the visor of her golden helmet, before turning the nimble little red mare she rode. It was obvious to see whom was the leader of this army, what with the shining golden armor, but from the distance one would never be able to tell that it was a young woman who bore its weight. At first glance, one might only think she was a young male; perhaps only in his early teens, what with her small stature.<br/><br/>Not caring much if Magne followed her or not back to the rear of the moving troops, the princess sought out the company of the youngest mage, a woman in her early twenties that went by the name Sonya. The blonde flashed a smile at her commander, before they rode side by side for the remainder of the journey. Once they came over the last hill that separated them from the forest, they came to a halt and Ariel, along with her most trusted generals, rode out in the front to inspect what they might be meeting in the oncoming battle.