Chapter II part iii

The Sunless days

The day wore on as the Crusaders laid down their weary heads and put away their swords for a time. The sky above turned dark though the day was not even half done yet. Clouds became shrouds and hid the light of the sun from the faces of the Christian men beneath who by now tried to sleep. No rain nor wind ventured here, it was a darkness that was unnatural, yet few of the crusaders gave it heed, and those who did didn't know what to think of it. None knew that it was an omen, a sign of things to come in their future, for had they known, maybe they would have turned back then, forgetting their cause to return to their homes.

The hills around them offered up only silence, and the grass beneath the soldiers gave little comfort. Their camp was made in a wide plain surrounded to the west by hills and to the east by a small village. The settlement was quiet and it appeared abandoned. To them it was not an uncommon sight anymore, for it seemed that many villages had been left to rot by their previous inhabitants. This land of death and battle had seen it's share of war, a family was lucky if they had not suffered a loss from the great fighting seen within the last few years at this very spot. It just would happen that Alfonso stopped his men upon the very place where Felipe, King of the Spaniards, led his army to battle, and was slain. Ever since that single clash five years earlier, many more armies had met their doom, and many more princes and kings were buried beneath the hills. Alfonso realized this soon enough, but only after he had gave the order for his men to make camp.

The day still dragged through, a cold wind kicked up and twisted through the land. The sky gave no comfort or warmth, the blue was covered as and the sky black as night, it was as if the Gods themselves deemed that the forsaken warriors be in darkness for all time. For Alfonso felt as such. The gust of wind grew cold and began to gnaw at the warriors, whose anger now began to gather in their hearts. Knowing full well that no retreat was possible, they longed for combat.

Some felt it was for revenge that they fought, but there was another reason. They had come to love the feel of battle, the sound of iron hitting bone, and the howl of the war cry as the charge was let loose. They sat sharpening their blades with insidious looks in their eyes laughing and shouting, refusing to sleep as they could feel that battle was near.

Alfonso looked about him as he noticed none of his men bothered to rest, and he too laughed. He could tell his men wanted a fight, they had grown accustomed to war, and the crusade had given them their wants. He looked into the eyes of those nearest to them and he saw the look of insanity. A look that was not upon his men the night before when they fled from the ambush running for their very lives. Alfonso then found that he felt as they, the strong hatred of the Mamlukes suddenly flared up inside him, the desire for revenge, it was as if he had forgotten all shame he had suffered upon his exile, and now all he could think about was battle. he rose up from the ground and drew his sword shouting Arise Arise knights of Christendom All eyes fixed upon him, wherever they may have been. Alfonso felt both his anger and pride, and he smiled. He was ready to do battle, for he knew not how, but he could tell one was near him.

His blade was like a shinning beacon, even in the sunless void that had settled in the land under the forsaken sky. Gather to you your weapons he cried For now is the time for war his men rejoiced, it was the words they had been longing to hear for sometime. they jumped onto their horses and grabbed their lances and spears. the foot soldiers retrieved their shields and reported to their unit commanders, Alfonso then climbed onto his horse, whose armor could be seen even without the sun, and began to rally his men for the march.

Soon they had gathered up what they could and departed, with the prince at their lead they marched west over the hills looking for battle. They marched with a great sense of pride that they had not felt in all their lives, and even though a great battle lay before them, they could not have been any more happier. They laughed and sang songs, they chanted their leader's name and they talked a great amount, it made Alfonso laugh to see his men so glad for once. The march lasted for what seemed like days to them, when in fact it was only a few hours. Their anxiety was building as they neared their enemy, even though they didn't know where they where.

Suddenly a great horn was heard and all eyes searched about, the great skies above parted and the sun was once more freed to shine it's light as it's bright rays filled the land. The Crusaders had reached a valley , and they themselves were on top of a hill. Across the valley they could see the Egyptians formed up in ordered ranks, their spear tips were unnumbered in the shinning sun and gleamed back at the staring eyes of the western men. Camels and Horses were rushing up and down the lines, shouting orders in their native language holding high their swords. with each order came a chant from the line infantry, no doubt some acknowledgment or war cry. It was meant to intimidate the crusaders, yet instead it only made them smile and laugh aloud.

Alfonso ordered his men to form the lines. Asturian footmen formed up in four ranks, with their wooden shields in front of them and their spear tips set forth like a great forest ready to throw back any attack pushed at them. The Knights of the Templar order readied their blades and were sent to the flanks along side of the Bellatores whose long spears shinned in the sun. The Galacian bowmen were behind the main line, with their bows in one hand, and the other in their quiver ready to draw and arrow for the coming battle. each one of these men was smiling, with their weapons in hand they were ready to fight again. They realized this is all that they were now, leaving their families behind for a life of war, this is all they could look forward to. And if they should die in battle, they cared not, for by now that is the greatest thing that could happen to them.

They wanted the glory, the pride, and the honor that comes with victory, and with Alfonso at their lead, they knew in their hearts that their cause was just. Standing before these mamlukes, clad in iron and holding their weapons proudly, the sun shining down in a golden haze, they felt like Gods. A sharp horn was heard, and the Mamlukes charged. As the wave of warriors rushed down the hill and into the valley filling the horizon, the crusaders knew that this battle would decide the fate of Iberia. Win or lose, this battle would be echoed for centuries, all who looked back would remember them and say words of praise for the deeds they were about to do. The warriors smiled as Alfonso let the war horn sound and ordered the first units of spearmen into battle, the warriors of Christendom threw their weapons ahead and charged into battle, and as death settled onto the field, they were happy for the first time in many days. So began the battle that would decide the fate of many, so would end the war in Iberia...