"cσмє, тнє qυєєη ιѕ ση тнє тняσηє"

[Light]

Echo-Mah-Echo Only!

Currently Unpaid! Please Take my money--*sobbing* TAKE IT.

---

In a land divided by war, two opposing countries--one being the bigger, stronger dog, and the other being an ignorant small poodle--start to battle it out for the fate of the continent. In the 'deciding' battle, the smaller country's general opposes his ruling king, saying that he won't participate in a losing war. Because of this, he's put under house arrest, and the king goes out and leads his own armies--which are wiped out. The general, knowing that if he doesn't at least do something the country will be conquered; fends off the enemy with a magical mist that neither side would be able to fight in.

Now, king-less, and a few thousand knights short, the country is in turmoil, and the kings daughter is the only heir...

---

After the defeat the the border; and the mist being raised like a cloak around the small country, the General that was under house arrest was released and summoned to the castle. His own army that was kept with him now filled the castle courtyard as he himself slowly walked into the large, splendid building. The tall spikes of his white hair bounced with each step, and a lame piece of hair covered his left eye, all the way down to his cheek bone. The other eye darted around from side to side, scanning the large, empty hall.

A lot of them were sure eager to leave, when the going got rough...

A grim smile curls at his lips, and his hand secures the handle to the throne room before pushing it open with a push. Of course, the only reason he was here was because the idiots that stayed still thought there was a chance--but with the crown in the hands of the enemy, and the only defense holding them off being a mist, the odds were most certainly not in their favor.

His eyes narrow at the chaos around the throne, nobles running about and securing what wealth they could from the room. "Oi, Oi... you got to be joking..." his small, child-like stature is quickly smothered by the running about the men were doing, his brown eyes trying to find some sort of reprieve in the room--because there had to be someone in their right mind in here, to have called him all the way from his castle.

[~echo~]

Evianna- With the face of a porcelain doll, it is hard to imagine that Evianna is a queen. Nevertheless, this fourteen-year-old was forced to take over the throne after the untimely death of her father, the king, who died in battle. Evianna is a small-statured, petite girl who stands at only 4'8. She has almost porcelain-like skin, honey-blonde hair, and emerald-green eyes that glisten and show her every emotion, unless she's careful. Evianna always wears a silver necklace that she has had almost as long as she could remember. When Evianna is in public- a.k.a, outside her private apartments in her castle, Evianna wears crimson-red lipstick and powders her cheeks with pink blush. Evianna is very reserved and quiet, with a face that would make anyone want to cry and do whatever she wants if she looks sad. She used to be much happier when her father was alive- they were very close- but when he died, a part of Evianna died as well. But she puts on a happy face when she is out and does her best to run the kingdom in a time of war.

---

The young queen looked on sadly as the nobles took what they wanted. What was the point anymore? Her father dead, her kingdom teetering on the edge of defeat. But she had summoned the general to try to make plans for... something, anything. She pressed a hand to her forehead and looked around for her advisors. It seemed they had been swept away by the melee as well. She sighed softly and walked through the crowd towards her throne... her father's throne. She sat on it and looked for the approach of the general.

A whisper of a memory touched the girl's brain. When she was young, the general had given her a token and promised to marry her someday. She laughed quietly to herself. It was funny how things worked out. Now, it was likely that she would die or become enslaved by their encroaching neighbor country. She hadn't had children, as absurd as that sounded. She was merely fourteen, though it wasn't uncommon in Weisenwald for brides to be young and mothers to be barely older. But Evianna's father had resolved to make sure that Evianna wouldn't get married until at least eighteen. She sighed softly again and looked around for the general.

[Light]

From the front of the room, where the doors had previously opened, a loud snarl pierces the air, "IF SOMEONE DOESN'T STOP THIS MADNESS I'LL THROW YOU ALL OUT IN THE HALL AND TELL MY SOLDIERS IT'S FREE RANGE!" The crowd suddenly froze, and someone in the mass was smart enough to drop what they had and move away from the center. Slowly, bit by bit, they start shuffling to the side, revealing the small, white haired general that stood with a hand on his sword. He looked like he had been pushed one too many times, and had his feathers ruffled. Some had carried what they had grabbed and left, but not without a dark glare from the general.

Idiots, the lot of them...

His gaze sweeps the rooms sides again, before settling on the throne. He wasn't afraid to do as he had threatened either--and the man was known for carrying out his threats to a T. He starts walking forward, kicking aside whatever was in his path that had been thrown into the floor. "Queen Evianna, I received news of the outcome, and have set up a temporary barrier on what perimeter we could. I also have your letter, summoning me here,"

[~echo~]

The queen let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. Quickly straightening her crown before the general approached, she stood and regarded him calmly, though with a small hint of the depth of her sadness in her emerald eyes. She dipped her head and fingered the necklace around her throat. "Thank you, general. I certainly appreciate it." Her voice was small and sad and she looked at her subjects before her. "Please leave," she said, sounding unsure of herself. Her personal guards stayed with her, though.

[Light]

He pushes back the hair that hung in his face, merging it with the wild mess. "Of course; next time, your Highness, I suggest giving them a little nudge out the door," his sword lets out a small Ching!, as it falls back into it's sheathe fully, his hand remaining on it's green handle though. He watches the men leave out the door, his nose twitching with obvious anger.

[~echo~]

The girl watched the people leave and then sat down. She rested her elbow on the arm of the throne, holding her forehead in her hand. "So, have you any ideas on how to defeat our enemies?" she asked quietly, without opening her eyes. She gestured to a servant and one brought over a horn full of wine.

[Light]

He watches her, his brown eyes suddenly holding a tired gleam that disappears as he rubs the bridge of his nose. "Your highness, it is far too early to be drinking," he tucks his arms into the large white robe that covered his back leather armor underneath, the kingdoms symbol in red covering the back and sleeves. "I had plans--several, before your father disregarded me for someone else, acting on their words, and lost more than half of our knights." he bares his teeth for a moment, the pearly whites rubbing together. "Your Highness, I will need to know everything about what we have, and who is left, before continuing."

[~echo~]

The queen glared at him and stubbornly took a sip of the wine. It was refreshing- barely any alcohol in it. She looked at one of her advisors and he brought a list over to her. "Let's see... many of the farms have been burned, as I am sure you are aware. We still have about one hundred and fifty knights, so I would appreciate it if you wouldn't offend me. I am still queen, as you know." She paused before continuing. "We have a thousand foot soldiers, but more can be recruited. Five hundred archers, six hundred and fifty cavalry, and six siege weapons- one trebuchet, three battering rams, one siege tower, and one catapult.

[Light]

"Yes, Your Highness," he sweeps a bow, "Then... I suggest putting away the siege weapons for now, as they are not fast enough for what we need, at the moment, your Highness." he clasps his hands behind his back, his voice dropping any kind of emotion that he had been expressing beforehand. "I will need more horses, though, and we will need to evacuate the surrounding areas, and have them burn everything as they come to the capital, with your gracious approval, Your Highness. With your one hundred and fifty knights, adding mine with them, we now have nearly three hundred and fifty. I will urge you to recruit more foot soldiers, and have the archers posted on the walls, Your Highness. I did not see them there before, as I came in from the West, so I think it best if you had that looked at--" he looks around the room once more, his jaw rolling in his mouth. "...your Highness." His small body bends forward again into another bow.

[~echo~]

The queen gestured for a scribe to make a note of all this. "So, your plan is to fight our enemies here? In the capitol? Are you quite sure that is wise?" She watched him, her eyes clearly filled with worry.

[Light]

"Wiesenwald isn't as fortified as it should be to deal with invaders in its countryside, but the capital has a good many defenses that we can make use of. I will need any ink that you may have, so that my magicians can start drawing up barriers." He rubs his heel into the ground silently as he tilts his head down, thinking. "Aule is filled with demons, and races that they have conquered throughout the years. Holy Water will be effective, so I recommend making a large request of it from the church, your Highness."

[~echo~]

The queen gestured to her scribe to start making the requests needed to the respective organizations. She then looked back at the general. "Are you sure that guerilla warfare would not be effective? Perhaps putting holy water in their wineskins, on surfaces that many of the demons would touch? Then perhaps we could attack their camp guards at night and shower holy water down on their camps."

[Light]

He shifts his weight to one side, the end of his scabbard lightly scraping against the floor, "Anyone else, any other country, that might be effective, but not..." he shakes his head, frowning. "Not Aule, your Highness. Attacking them head-on would only end like it did today, even with holy water. They have a sense for that kind of thing. It would be good though, to mix it into our water system in the capital. Dousing the walls with it as well; and soaking arrowheads." he pauses a moment before bowing again, "But, of course, the words of I, may not be agreed with by some of your supporters' whom wish to keep the enemy as far away as possible."

[~echo~]

She shifted in her throne and then stood, looking at him. "I know nothing of war, and neither do they. I will support you with all I have," she said, though it hurt to say it. Despite her young age and recent coronation, she already had a sense of pride and humility when it came to situations like this. "But you must swear fealty to me and my crown. I cannot have a loose cannon running about my kingdom, even if it is my general."

[Light]

"The mist should buy us a week a most, for us to have a portion of the preparations ready." his fingers tap against his belt, and then suddenly freeze at the demand. "... Of course, your Highness." he slowly starts walking forward towards the throne, stopping short of the steps. His fingers grasp his swords handle, and he pulls it out; holding it out in his hands, one of the balancing the flat side on it, and the other the hilt.

"Snow Laesburn, son of Yourn, will never turn his sword on you." his knee bends as he kneels down, the movement making him much smaller than before. "As long as you wear that crown, I will serve you. A loose, default general I may be."

[~echo~]

Evianna dipped her head, seemingly satisfied with his answer. "Thank you, General Laesburn. And now, we must begin preparations. Summon your spellcasters to the castle so they may begin barrier preparation. You there, send for all families living in the countryside to make their way to the castle. Tell them to burn anything that would help the enemy." She paused. "And begin recruiting more soldiers, find as many horses as you can. Field horses, if you must." The servants scurried off to do her bidding. Evianna sat down and took another sip of the wine.

[Light]

"I already have a few here, checking on the barrier sites," he sheathed his sword as he stood, his back straightening, "If that is all, I need to go tell my men their orders. I'm a call away if things get out of hand."

[~echo~]

Evianna dipped her head. "Could you call the others, please? And thank you, Laesburn. I appreciate all you are doing." She stood and left the room through a door behind the podium on which the throne stood.

[Light]

Snow stood still until she had disappeared. When he heard the opening of the door, he quickly turned around and started walking towards the exit to the throne room.

The things I did for children...--shaking his head once again, the General pushes open the doors and lets them close again on their own.

[~echo~]

(Timeskip?)