[center][h3][b][i]Saoirse[/i][/b][/h3][/center]
[center][i]Princess of Seanate[/i][/center]
[hr]
There was the realization that something had gone awry, as the princess gathered her remaining soldiers to her side during the last moments of their flight through the mountains before the coming of dawn. The sight of how few warriors she had left among her company, combined with the fatigue she felt after moving through this difficult terrain for hours on end while the storm continued to rage above, both left her disheartened, but she refused to surrender to despair. She needed to devise another course of action now because the enemy had relented in their chase, somehow aware of the awaiting ambush ahead perhaps... Saoirse shook her head in ire as she heavily breathed with exhaustion. In her mind, she analyzed the situation and attempted to see it from the view of her enemies: It was evident that her attack was helplessly desperate, and they did not truly have to chase after her forces in order to defeat her...

Yet they left themselves vulnerable to further attacks by letting their assailants survive for now, not that Saoirse's future plans had much chance of a success either. She had failed to lure the beast out of its cave and into her trap, as it seemed this beast possessed more cunning than she had thought it had, which had proven to a grave mistake considering her current predicament. In truth, she had few other ways of dealing significant damage to the enemy aside from the danger of the mountains themselves, but the illusions her magicians had summoned would disperse with the arrival of daylight, rendering the trap useless. Lastly, though the storm helped hid them from their pursuers, it continued to batter at morale. Saoirse did not know how long her soldiers would continue to fight, when all hope seemed lost and the weather killed them before the enemy does. There was no shelter they could find that offered protection from the howling winds and endless rain.

She spoke with her knights as they sought further commands to relay to their own soldiers, hearing what they have to say as well. [b]"We must harass our foes, compel them into chasing us. Our arrows are not enough, so we must sabotage anything and everything we can: False attacks and illusions. Disruptions to their supply lines. Infiltrate their camp and spread chaos. We will force them to suffer our wrath until their own fires of rage are blazing and they come hounding after us like the infernal dogs they are. Then we will deliver our retribution, a crushing blow to remind them of our strength."[/b] Saoirse proclaimed.

Saoirse hated how hollow her voice sounded, almost suppressed by the presence of the violent storm, but at least her words were heard. One of her knights held up a hand as he spoke: [b][i]"I'm afraid we're lacking the numbers, your grace. The common folk all fled, and we lost too many in our retreat."[/i][/b] He hesitated before he continued. [b][i]"The odds would be against us even in normal circumstances, but our enemy is led by the devil himself. Mere men are not enough, and its seems the gods have forsaken us... Besides, what happens when they choose to march upon our homes? We can't stop them. I have to protect my family..."[/i][/b]

The princess wanted to curse her fate aloud, but instead remained silent as she pondered his words. More of her knights joined in their brother's disposition, while others advocated on her behalf and insisted she would find a way to win in the end. [b]"Enough."[/b] She said, bringing their fruitless bickering to an end, waiting until they all turned their attention back to her and were listening. [b]"The gods are watching us, weighing our worthiness - Let them have mercy when judging our loved ones, should our hated enemies seek to strike our home and families as opposed to facing us in battle, may the gods be gentle to the innocent and eternally curse the cruel and cowardly! For now, we must steel our hearts, and endure the hardships ahead of us. We must remain strong and faithful! We will find a weakness in our foes, and we can attain victory if we do not give in to fear! I am your princess, and I ask you to fight with me!"[/b]

[i][b]"Have you come up with a new strategy then?"[/b][/i] There was a mixture of oxymoronic admiration and scorn in the voice of the one who questioned her, but Saoirse embraced the insinuated challenge with newfound vigor and resolve. Before she answered, another voice interrupted as one of the scouts returned and came to her. The scout was frightened and frantic, looking behind him as if terrified he was being followed, but there was nothing. Swiftly he told them what he had seen, and Saoirse felt her sudden strength wane upon hearing his words: [i]"My princess, they have the king! They've captured him and spirited him away!"[/i]