I am but a frail shell of faith, for the Lord, for the people. My might is their faith and His glory, my swift stride is but to the beat of their hearts and to his will, my allegiance, my every breath is theirs, in my eternal struggle for freedom, for love, for innocence.
I refuse to take their prayers as my own.
She strode the soil of the North with ever-returning fear and never-felt doubt. Recalling the conversation they have had last night, she stopped for a moment, pondering.
"Dina York has lead this army once before and she has failed, Anni" - she heard Glortor's voice in her head. "It matters not whether you triumph or fall, what matters is that you are true to your heart all along."
"What 'bout Dina? She never told me" - Anni asked, looking up at him.
"Dina was actually your predecessor in being the chosen one , the one prophecised to defeat the Final Enemy. She, however, failed. Her soul was ripped from her body despite being immortal, as he lost her faith at the hands of the Cheater.
Her father was beheaded below Solinar some two hundred years ago for crimes he did not commit. Dina fled to the north with her younger brother who joined the army while she was working as a healer in the temple.
One day the undead breached the northern gate and they were forced to fight back. Her brave whitstanding and the fact that she's a "Daughter of a headless man" made me believe she's the one." - he sighed, remembering the prophecy.
"But I was wrong." - She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Out of Haniel's mercy she was brought back to life and put to temple duty in Daranul, that she's been working hard on, eversince." - she nodded, understanding.
She dodged an undead minion's axe and touched its skull head. She frowned for a moment as she made a final decision. "No matter what, I'll make my stand. I am needed, they are countin' on me."
Her eyes flared a platinum colour and she remembered for the soldier.
"My name is Sanders O'Hara. I served under King Murdoch and have fallen in duty for the Dark Fire. I am unfit. Destroy me." - she muttered.
She shook her head, subduing the rotting body, and reaching for the damned soul.
"In the name of the Lord!" - she shouted, and divine might erupted near her, turning an amount of the damned to shuddering, fearful mortals. They trembled, falling to their knees. "Thou art dost granted what thou dost beesecht." - sang the angel Efrael above her. "Go away, I don't need ye."
Another howl was heard and another wave came, charging the armies of Orcs, where one mortal fell, a priest stepped forth to resurrect from the mercy of the gods.
"The Gods art amongst us today, Shatterfist."
"I HATE 'at name! Get lost!"
"You might not need her Anni, but she needs you." - she heard a familiar voice, and glancing back she saw the face of the Lord fade among the spreading crowd.
"Fine. Damn it. Will I never be free?"
"Our freedom dost cometh from choice." - sang Efrael and merged with Anni, increasing her speed and strength dramatically. She cut a jagged swath upon her ethereal, shadowy frame, dealing redemption to the last standing forces of the undead army.
In her wake the fallen warriors rose to their feet, and the damned were purged of the curse.
Silence settled over the battlefields, only the song of the Angels was never ceasing, and she gripped the holy sceptre of Haniel, glaring into the swirling portal beneath her: into the eyes of the Burning Hells.
She landed, surrounded by the highest ranking priests of the land. She took a glance at them: those from Elmensfaar and from Nherazkar, the elderly frame of the goodly high priest Andrew Domian, the tall and confident stance of Glortor'Rai and the ever-kind smile of Elshannil from Nighthaven. Rianth himself towered over them with his arms folded high in front of his chest in a tribal leader's manner, the lesser deity of giants graced her with a nod. Next to him the cunning , cruel and tiny black eyes of the orc Hishnak returned her gaze. "Today we sit peace. But from tomorrow the old law shall stand between Man and Orc." - he said and she did not respond, stepping up to the gate.
"By the foundations of Babylon!" - she took the scepter and struck the planar gate.
"In the name of the Lord!" - the clerics began to chant , each their own prayers.
"Where there is darkness, let there be light..."
"Gkrazk kbar'huursh r'rkak Rabio.."
...and then there was silence.
I am faith incarnate, for the people who have faith in me. My might is their faith and their glory, my swift stride is but to the beat of their hearts and to my unbreakable will, my allegiance, my every breath is theirs, for I know their freedom, their love, their innocence.
Their prayers I hear, and I shall do as I must.
_________________ "There is no Sparta. THIS. IS. SPOON!!"
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