The battle was over. Tariq had arrived with his army, and the surviving enemies had quickly surrendered after learning of the death of Khanar. They were now lined up, throwing their weapons into a pile and being split into guarded groups. Ryuna and the survivors of my army kept a careful watch on them, making sure they caused no trouble. I made my way past them, running quickly to the place where I had last seen Nadow and Hadar. It wasn't hard to find, for it was on the top of the plateau.

   Once I reached the top I immediately saw them both, and threw my helmet off and ran the rest of the way toward them. Both were laying exactly where they had been before, and I thought with growing sadness that my fears were confirmed, that they were both dead.

   But suddenly, I heard a cough and saw Nadow lift a hand in the air weakly. I swiftly ran to his side and crouched down, looking over his injuries. He had not only been stabbed in the chest, he had also been stabbed and slashed in countless other places, and a pool of blood had formed around him. Despite this, his eyes opened slightly and when he saw me he smiled.

   "You're alive... Praise Eru," He whispered hoarsely before coughing profusely. I took his hand in mind and lifted my canteen to his lips.

   "Shh, do not speak. You must keep up your strength."

   He squeezed my hand tightly and smiled. "You must always keep that positivity. It befits you."

   "It's not positivity, you'll need your strength," I said, frowning at his words.

   "No Rukil. I have no more strength to give, my time here is nearly gone." He coughed again. "I am glad that I was able to give what strength I had for your cause, my prince."

   "No Nadow, you're going to make it. You're safe now," I insisted. I wouldn't believe that he was dying... I couldn't.

   "I am safe now. And I am complete now too, I see that my cause was successful," He said with a weak smile. "You will lead the Death Bringers now. Lead them to glory."

   "Nadow, no! You'll lead them, you have to!" A tear fell down my face as I gripped his hand tighter.

   "You will make a great ruler, my brother," He said faintly. "I go now to my see my father, for he awaits me in paradise. Bring peace to the East. Bring peace to our people..."

   "I will... But I need your help, you can't..." I stopped as I felt his hand go limp, and his eyes glossed over.

   "No..." I whispered, tears flowing freely down my face. After a moment I ceased, and put two fingers on Nadow's forehead.

   "Rest in peace, knight of Rhun," I said, closing his eyes and tracing the symbol of my tribe over his forehead. He was a part of it now, even though he would never know it.

   A sharp gasp pulled my attention away from Nadow, and I looked in the direction it had come from. There I saw Hadar, alive and breathing in short breaths. I ran over to him, hoping that he wasn't dying. When he saw me his eyes opened wide and he attempted to sit up.

   "Rukil! If you're alive, it means we won! Is that so?" He quickly put a hand on his head in pain and lay back down.

   "Calm down, do not stress yourself. We won, though barely."

   "Is Khanar dead then?" Hadar asked hopefully.

   "Yes, I killed him myself," I replied. My face was still moist with tears and as soon as Hadar noticed, he grew worried.

   "Is Taryi alright? Did something happen to her?"

   I looked down at the ground. "I do not know. But Nadow didn't make it."

   Hadar closed his eyes in sorrow. "He died helping me. If not for him, I would have certainly not survived. His death is a hard blow to me."

   "As it is to me as well. But he is with his father now, and he will have peace." I said the words partly to reassure Hadar, but mostly just to reassure myself.

   "You are right, my friend. He will indeed have peace." Hadar slowly sat up again, looking me in the eyes. "We must find Taryi. Last I saw her she was fighting along the edge of the plateau alongside Ryuna."

   I glanced toward the area he spoke of, and stood. "I will find Ryuna and speak with him, I saw him with the main army earlier."

   Hadar attempted to stand up next to me, but his leg buckled and he was forced to lean on me for support. "I'll go up there, where she was seen last."

   "You'll do no such thing! You're injured, I'm taking you straight to the healers," I asserted, leaving no room for argument. He nodded defeatedly, and leaned on me more heavily. I thought that he looked pale, and the fact that he didn't fight me on my decision made me realize fully how badly injured he was.

   Neither of us spoke as we descended the hill, and the scene that surrounded us as we limped along was haunting. The twisted bodies of countless dead lay strewn about, and crows and vultures picked at them, occasionally letting out a mournful call. I saw several torn banners blowing loosely in the wind; those of the tribes of Rhun, the Golden Serpent of Harondar, and the red Eye of Sauron crudely drawn on a black banner. Aside from the birds and the sound of the wind, it was eerily silent. I shivered and quickened our pace, wanting to be gone from this sorrowful place.

   We soon reached the encampment that Tariq's men had erected, and I took Hadar straight to the medical tents. Inside, healers escorted Hadar away and told me that he'd be well looked after, though I was skeptical of that. I would feel better if it were someone that I trusted that was taking care of him, but I did not have that luxury.

   After checking in on my men that were in the medical tents, I made my way back up the gloomy path to the plateau. I attempted to ignore the sights around me, but it was nearly impossible. Many of the dead men I saw looked little older than me, and some of them were even younger. Now that they were covered in blood and dust, it was impossible to tell friend from foe apart. They were all the same in death.

   As I neared the top of the hill, I saw to my sorrow a face that I recognized among the bodies: Syri, the Bleak Rider that I had spoken to at the Phantom Tower so long ago. I hadn't known her much beyond that first meeting, but seeing her here made the magnitude of the losses of the battle hit home that much more. These were people, not just soldiers. Each of them had a life before this, and they would have had a life afterward, had it not been cut short. I realized now more than ever one thing: War was terrible, and I would never lead my people into one without good reason.

   I finally reached the top of the hill after coming across many more bodies that I recognized; Those of the men who guarded my tent the night before; Hatamo, Ryuna's second in command; Even just men who I had acknowledged in passing. I would never forget them.

   But I still did not see Taryi. I began to fear that she had died elsewhere, in which case I would most likely never find her. But just as I had searched nearly everywhere, I heard a faint voice call out from among a pile of bodies. I quickly ran over and began moving them, and soon found Taryi at the bottom of the pile. She was conscious, and when she saw me her eyes grew moist with tears.

   "Rukil! I feared that nobody would find me, and I would die here..."

   I grasped her hand and smiled. "You're safe now, you won't die. How badly are you wounded?"

   She reached for her side and winced. "My ribs are broken, I think. And I can't feel my legs..."

   I sighed in relief. "It doesn't appear that you're bleeding much either, which is good." I slowly lifted her from the ground, making sure that I didn't injure her further. "Hadar will be overjoyed to know I found you alive. You were the first person he asked about."

   Taryi looked at me in surprise. "Really? He asked about me?"

   "Not only that, but he wanted to come out here himself to find you."

   "Why didn't he? Is he wounded?" She asked worriedly.

   "Yes, but it's nothing that the healers can't deal with. He'll be up and about soon enough."

   "Good, I'm glad..." She replied, burying her head in my shoulder and closing her eyes. I carried her down to the medical tent and they took her in as well, although this time the head matron seemed surprised that I had brought in another person.

   "You're the first of royal blood that I've seen do something like that. These are strange days, when princes care for others before themselves..." She shook her head and hurried away. I watched her go, and just as I was about to leave to search the battlefield for more wounded I heard a voice behind me.

   "She is right. Perhaps you will set a precedent for future generations of Rhunic leaders." Caledorn moved to my side and raised an eyebrow. "I must admit, I am rather surprised that you're already doing so well."

   "Well, I wasn't injured badly, so I didn't need to recover," I replied.

   "I was not referring to your health. I meant that you are taking your new position quite seriously, and you're shaping up to be a fine ruler."

   I looked at the elf in surprise. "Was that... A compliment?"

   Caledorn's mouth turned up in a smirk. "Take it how you will. It was merely an observation, though if you wish to take it as a compliment you may."

   "Elves..." I muttered, turning and striding through the tent flaps. I had turned just in time to hide the smile that was widening on my face from the elf.

======================================

The Pit, Morgothrone, Rhun; two weeks later

   "And for bravely standing by the Khan when no one else did, defending the sovereignty of Rhun, aiding in the suppression of brigands and rebels, answering the nation's call to arms, and furthering the will of the Khan, we bestow upon Rukil the titles of Prince Regent of Rhun, Defender of the Throne, and Sovereign Protector of the Khan! May he always remain worthy of the titles he has been given!"

   The crowd that had gathered cheered at the scribe's words, just as the Chief Elder of my tribe stepped forward. In his hands he carried a golden circlet, in which was set the great emerald of our tribe.

   "In addition to the titles given, upon Rukil is also bestowed the title of Chieftain and King of the Dorgeshi tribe. Long may he rule, and may he bring peace and prosperity to our tribe for many years to come!" As he finished he motioned for me to come forward, and I did. I was now dressed in the traditional garb of our Chieftains: I wore black robes and a red sash, and I wore red facepaint that ran in lines down the right side of my face.

   As I took my place, the Chief Elder gently lowered the circlet atop my brow, and the crowd cheered loudly. I raised my arms to silence them, and when the arena was quiet I spoke.

   "A great battle has been won! Rhun is now free of the yoke of Sauron, and we are unified as never before! Let us stand together today, regardless of tribe, nation, or creed, and embrace each other as brothers and sisters! We gather here, at The Pit, on an iconic day. For this is the day that the barbaric arena fights end! No longer will children be taken from their families to shed their blood on the sand below! No longer will slaves be forced to murder each other! This will be the beginning of a new era of morality and peace!"

   The crowd went wild at my words, and I smiled as I raised my hands into the air. Horns sounded from the four corners of the arena, and flowers fell from the sky onto the astonished crowd. Children ran into the arena, happily skipping about as they tried to catch the falling flowers. I scanned the crowd and smiled wider as I saw Hadar and Taryi, who waved at me from where they were in the audience.

   I waved one final time before walking away, happy to see so much joy for the first time in my life. Yes... At last, we would have peace.