Chapter 9: The Great Siege of the Betrayers PART I
The siege of New Aquilonia was underway. Regardless of the tireless efforts of Priestess Leithia now crowned queen due to her marriage with the King of the Atlanteans there would be no peace in the land. The Northern Alliance had fallen apart due to the unity of the two empires but that was short lived. General Xio and the Red Witch were still hard at work trying to undermine the union. They reached out to more clans and people of the North: Killian, Souls of Acheron, Fid Viola, Falconia, W.T.C.S. and Norsca. Leithia worked tirelessly to rally the South to her aide, the Red Sand Empire joined the ranks as well as Black Iron Kings, House Asshuri, and House Thyvir. The pieces were set for this great battle and as the trebuchets let loose the great battle begin.
The defense was going well until the Red Witch summoned Set. The great snake broke through the defense of the massive Hyrda Wall in the back and when it came crashing down the attackers spilled into New Aquilonia fighting their way to the keep. Seeing their defenses weakened Queen Leithia summoned Mitra to cripple the attackers’ base. The great silvery God smashed through their fortifications leaving only a fraction of their forward base. The siege raged on with the defenders doing their best to ward off the onslaught of the Northern Alliance.
Chapter 9: The Great Siege of the Betrayers PART II
Meanwhile, Apolo-Thyvir a defender and ArGan her personal spy for the empire ran up to Leithia telling her that the attackers were heading her way and that she should follow them to safety. She agreed thinking their idea to be reasonable. But unbeknownst to Leithia her loyal spy and defender were leading her astray. Once they reached ArGan’s house they unveiled their plot to hand her over to the attackers. ArGan did it for revenge but Thyvir’s aspirations were much higher, he did it for sheer power for he wanted to be king himself.
The battle raged on and once the word spread that the queen had been captured the defenders rushed to the Span bridge hoping to cut them off and rescue the queen. Her Warmaster Lato and also her most trusted advisor Brother Yig made it to the bridge along with others trying to reach her. Fight as they might there was much confusion as the word of traitors spread among the ranks. Some of the attackers joined the side of the defenders realizing they had been deceived. The ultimate betrayal was revealed when Leithia witnessed her King, the man she married Conobar ran her most trusted advisor, Brother Yig, through with a sword right in front of her. She stood in shock as she watched the slew of bodies before her and took in all of the betrayal of those she trusted. The end was nigh and soon the entire city behind her would burn to the ground.
Chapter 9: The Great Siege of the Betrayers PART III
Much planning had conspired behind her back. Secret meetings between the Red Witch, General Xio, The Northern Alliance, House Thyvir, ArGan and now the king himself. For months they had been meeting and plotting behind the Queen’s back and now their carefully laid plans were finally coming to fruition. As her capturers led her to their base all Leithia could think of now was staying alive and keeping her unborn child alive within her. The visions Mitra had shown her of a new life seemed almost cruel. The thought that she could have a child, raise them somewhere safe and live among trees far away from the desolate desert that brought nothing but pain seemed but a dream now. As if she was being teased in some cruel sick way. ArGan and Thyvir violently pushed her forward with the request of the King as he carved a path before them with his sword. Anyone who tried to rescue her was cut down. Once they reached their base they started to discuss what they were going to do with her.
Chapter 9: The Great Siege of the Betrayers PART IV
Leithia used this opportunity to inform them that not only does she have a direct connection to Mitra but through her veins, being the curse of the Aquilonia royalty bloodline, she had the power of sorcery. She laughed at her attackers while she teleported away from them and in her moment of anguish she reached out to the sky to summon Mitra once more. Filled with anger and hate the God was displeased with his priestess so while he destroyed the attackers’ base he allowed Thyvir to slip through. With his moment to seize power at hand he thrust his dagger through her heart. She crumbled to the ground as the warm blood spread among her garments.
With her last bit of strength she reached with her fingertips to the sky and in her dying breath whispered, "Oh, Mitra, why have you forsaken me?" The blood spread across the sand and the last tiny heartbeat of her unborn child stilled. The thirsty sand drank deep of Leithia's life force. She was no more. The queen had fallen and any hope of civilization vanished. The new lands opened up North the desert was once still again. Mitra’s vision to Leithia was not false but the clans scattered north trying to find meaning once more amongst themselves.