The New Archmage (NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 30)

The big bad wolf growled at them, ready to pounce, when something wooshed overhead and stuck in its flank. The fenris staggered, then Queen Greor arrived with her troops.
'...should be able to practice more.' She was saying to one of her generals as she thundered past.
The Jotnar hacked at the beast and the Queen launched herself at the spear, swinging on it to free it. When another fenris jumped the crowd of defenders, she caught it in the throat with a swift throw.
'Getting closer.' She retrieved Gunnir as the second wolf gurgled its last.
Tom could see Kael towards the back of the press of bodies and ran over as more fenris sailed over them.
'We have to go.' He pulled on the big man's arm.
'We have to defend this city.' Kael said. 'Your plan won't work now anyway.'
Tom looked around desperately, there was still some stone left for creating the dam with. He levitated all he could see of it and swung it around to be in line with the broken wall, then he started smashing the rocks in to place, one by one. As the monsters had pushed forwards, it was them that the rocks crushed. Those that could, fell back, wary of the rain of boulders. Tom finished roughly rebuilding the wall, several creatures protruded from the stone work. He turned to see Queen Greor pulling Gunnir from the eye-socket of a fenris. She gave him a thumbs up and was about to say something when another section of wall, weakened by the days of attack and the water, gave way further along. She had time to turn before a bear-monster was on her. It raked at her armour before the Queen's bodyguards skewered it with swords. When they helped her up, it was clear she was badly hurt, blood dripped from rents in her armour.

The New Archmage (NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 29)

Watching the full might of the Jotnar army fall in to ranks on the sodden valley floor was impressive. Raiding parties were taking care of the isolated and injured monster left around the river and eventually regiments were dispatched to clean up the small groups that had formed at the mouth of the valley. The flood had confuse and frightened the creatures, and they ceased to be a single horde, making them easier to surround and exterminate. There were a dozen of the invincible, magical tentacled monsters left, but Tom took the job slowly and carefully. Even then, his arms felt stiff and he was struggling to keep his eyes open when he returned to the knot of Generals and advisors that the Queen had gathered. Her plan was simple: cross the mountains, then march South-East and cross the Aviron. That would allow the army to march North again to Harrowden without having to lift the siege, and then they could bolster the city's defences. Tom wondered how they would then break the siege, but kept his thoughts to himself as he was too tired to discuss it.

The Elvish scouts had come down and were preparing to leave. Tom thanked them all warmly again.

'Any Elf can roam free in Dunland. My father will decree it and I will uphold it.'

'Thank you Prince Tom.' Alvis said. 'We may take you up on the offer.'

'Will you ask King Freyr to please helps us in any way he can?' Tom stifled an involuntary yawn.

'I will pass along the request.' Alvis assured him.

'Then all that is left is to wish you good speed and good luck.'

'To you also. I hope you can save Harrowden.'

The Elves set off at a jog down the valley and were out of sight within an hour, leaving Tom and Amelia with the Queen and her entourage.

'You need to rest.' Amelia was concerned as she watched Tom.

'I'll be ok.' He assured her.

The Queen found them, shooing away the clerk and Generals that followed her everywhere.

'Bloody nuisances.' She said under her breath. 'We're about ready to move out. We'll make camp on the mountain tonight and we should be crossing the Aviron by tomorrow night.'

'The Jotnar march fast.' Tom observed.

'The Jotnar march at whatever speed I tell them.' The Queen replied. 'But you two will find it difficult to keep up. I suggest you wait and come on at your own pace, we have no means of carrying you with us over the mountains.'

Amelia nodded, but Tom wanted to go with the Jotnar. The Queen left them alone to talk about what they were going to do.

'You need rest.' Amelia pleaded with him. 'If we try to keep up with the Jotnar you'll be no good for anything when we reach Harrowden.'

'But I need to save my city.' Tom said, stubbornly.

'You've already saved one city. Let the queen pay you back.'

Tom wanted to continue the argument, but his thoughts were sluggish. He acquiesced and let Amelia lead him back in to Oesterin and up to her room at the Troll's Head. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow. In the valley below, the Jotnar army started its march.

The New Archmage (NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 28)

The fire at the centre of the clearing was roaring when Tom awoke from a nightmare of the dark army tearing Harrowden apart. The entire sammargat was gather around it, talking and singing in their ancient tongue. Tom cautiously ventured down in to their midst and soon found Alvis with Vidar, Gunnar, Baldr, Orvar and Tyr. They were drinking a sweet beer-like drink and telling tales of previous adventures.

'Prince Tom!' Baldr exclaimed. 'You join us at a tense moment; Vidar was just explaining why he was caught hanging from the window of Brendak's daughter's room wearing nothing but a pink nightie and a cheeky grin.'

Vidar was looking uncomfortable, while his colleagues appeared highly amused and not a little drunk. Alvis handed Tom a beer and fetched him a stool and soon they were all swapping stories like old friends. It was the small hours of the morning before Alvis and Tom staggered back to the treehouse. Given how drunk they were, they decided to use the basket lift instead of the rope ladder and took it in turns to hoist each other to the balcony, before retiring to their rooms.