The Last Battle

Flash Fiction

The last battle had been fierce. But the war was at last won. Serena looked across the bloody field of battle, her long blonde hair, broad sword and leather bodice coated in the blood of her enemy. The image of a phoenix etched in the leather of her bodice, now faded by the many years of battle and harsh weather that it endured.

Vultures circled lazily in the early evening sky, waiting eagerly to feast on the flesh of the fallen. The sun low in the west, casting long shadows across the blood soaked desert. Any enemy that remained from the day’s battle were soon dispatched by their victors with a thrust or blow from sword or axe.

Serena stared down at the broken body of King Darius, her nemesis, lying bloody at her sandaled feet-a mortal wound to his cold heart. Serena had delivered that blow with the thrust of her sword.

For the past three years her army of slaves, the broken and displaced had fought the mighty armies of King Darius on many battle fronts, to win their freedom from his tyranny.

She bent down and picked up his golden crown, the metal glowing dimly in the dying light of the day.

She was exhausted but at least it was now over. The evil had been vanquished. Now the building of a new empire would begin.

Tonight they would celebrate with wine and song and remember those who had fallen and honour their sacrifice.

In the days to come she would give thanks to the gods within the hallowed walls of the temple by sacrificing lambs and goats for their victory.

She’ll leave King Darius here for the vultures and wolves to feed upon, a small smile creeping across her handsome features at the thought.

Talos, her Sergeant-at-Arms appeared at her side and was handed the crown. As Serena knelt before him he raised the crown to the heavens. A lone horn rang out across the battlefield, heralding the end of the action, as the war worn standards flapped in the hot desert winds.

All the men paused to witness the birth of a new queen as the crown was placed upon Serena’s golden head. Serena stood and raised her blood washed sword to the crimson sky as the sun set on this victorious day.

Serena the princess who had been banished from her lands many years before had finally got a kingdom she could call her own.

Jason Duck 2024.

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