Victory, and peace

Battle is horror, the Dove was thinking. There was no other word to describe the carnage, the enemy appeared at first to be few in number, but each enemy they fell was another that added to their side, and this had a terrible effect on the morale of their side.

"Retreat the wounded, and engage" Nathalie steeled her voice, her spirit must not waver in front of her troops. She saw a clear path towards one of the undead, a former soldier apparently, and charged, chopping his head clean with a single strike. The effect was immediate. Boolstered by her success, Nathalie and a score of knights went deeper and deeper in the skirmish.

Their cavalry caught her by surprise. The wail of a banshee prenounced the arrival, unliving hoofs whittering the florest these elves once loved. The Dove lost all track of battle, and tried only to survive, parrying weapons and risking the occasional ripose.

Her mount was stuck dead. crushing her leg under its weight. Panic as she was helplessly pinned under the dead horse, blinding pain scourged her mind clean of all thoughts. Chance or fate, an armed crossbow was in reach, Nathalie had one shot. It was then that she appeared.

Fair, regal, lean and tall. The unliving elven rider must have been a true beauty in life, now she resembled a whittered rose,ready to lose its petals. She was also the obvious leader of this army, her skin was marked with red brands, and it was her wail that was echoed by this army. It was a single, perfect shot, and the last thing Nathalie did before she lost conscience.

She woke after the battle. Tears rolled down her face, but there was no pain. She felt down, and was glad to find her leg still there. An elven healer stood sigil by her side, a stocky elf with thin features and long red hair. "My uncle?" she asked in the fair tongue, and received only "sleep" in turn. And she did.

When next the Dove woke it was to a larger crowd. Her uncle, the Duke, greeted her to the world of living with a strong hug, Nathalie was in ecstasy. He quickly recapped the battle, saying the loss of the Undead elven leader turned the tides of battle, and gradually they were able to subdue and exterminate all of the undead foes. What is more, eventually the elves joined their side, it was one of them that found Nathalie and tended her wounds.

Peace talks were brief. The elves were very grateful for the succor, and accepted to arrenge a meeting with their Queen.