The Caravan marches through the open plains of the countryside passing farmland that has been harvested bare in an effort to provide as much grain as possible. Birds flying through the sky chirping. Kara takes in a deep breathe of the fresh air, enjoying the peace of the country before they arrive at the Fortification. The landscape begins to change as they enter the Valley. The top of the Valley every few miles has watchtowers scattered along it keeping visual for enemy movements.

With the Caravan marching well into the evening Marcus suggests to allow them, especially the soldiers on foot to rest for the night.

"They'll be fine, Marcus. They can rest at the fort. For now we march on."

He sighs quietly knowing the men will be tired since they are expected to arrive at the Fort sometime after midday, he doesn't agree with her decision but decides to go along with it.

Dawn breaks over the Twin Valley and the Caravan is feeling the long nights march: the soldiers, and animals moving at a slower pace as they approach the Fort. The walls of the Fort stand ten feet tall made from logs, with the walls of the Fort stretch from end to end of the Valley, and the Royal Banner flying: Green flag, with a yellow X running corner-to-corner with the Triskelion in the centre.

The gate opens as a male voice yells out signaling their arrival. Soldiers in wearing studded armour stand off to the side of the gate as the Caravan enters, flags from the various Houses, and Regiments flying over the tents while others are posted in the ground. The Wagons carrying the supplies stop as the gate closes behind them while the others make their way through the inner sections of the camp with the reinforcements still following behind them. They enter the centre of the camp where a large tent with the Royal Banner on either side of the entrance, doubles of other House Banners spaced a few feet apart marking a path with a dozen spearmen in studded armour standing guard outside the tent. Marcus, and Kara dismount their horses as a coupe stewards approach to tie off the horses as they walk towards the tent while the House Guard remain outside on their horses.

They enter the tent and there stands eight men standing around a large wooden table with a map with painted wooden pawn-like figures marking different areas of the Twin Valley.

"Ah Sire Cnaith, Welcome back! I'd began to think those Royal Calvary bastards convinced you to stay." A light skinned middle aged man with short-ish brown hair, brown eyes, in plate armour says jokingly having taken noticed of their entrance

"No Mi'lord, Capital life would bore me too death." the two laugh as the rest of the men turn to face Kara, and Marcus.

Some of these men she recognizes right away, and feels a sense of relief to see. One of which being her uncle Liam: a bigger man with a full greying beard ,and greying hair wearing leather armour. He walks up to her she goes to give him a hug having not seen him for so long but she finds her feet lifting off the ground as he gives her a bear hug while laughing joyfully seeing her.

"AH lass, I've missed you!" He say with a thick accent with a wide smile, Kara smiles as her uncle looks at her.

"My Gods, you look more lovely than ever Kara! Look at you, you were just a wee thing when I last saw you! Now you're all grown up!" Kara eyes light up as she laughs while her uncle brushes her now slightly messy hair out of her face.

I can't remember the last time I saw my uncle, its been so long. He served by my fathers side during the Xion Invasion so of course he answered Aidan's call when the Rebellion started. Never backed down from a fight in his life.

The same man from before calls the attention back by clearing his throat before speaking with a neutral tone,

"As touching as this is, we do have a battle to prepare for."

Liam groans while turning around, steeping back to the table, while Kara stares at the table: she sees a map of the Twin Valley's, with lines marking the side controlled by the Realm, and the Rebels. She tables at the table, looking down at mini flags of the various House Banners, and the Rebel flag. The men continue arguing with each other, moving their flags while Kara stares at the map: Three Rebels are on the map in open field that separates the Valleys, and the Royal Banner being the only flag not moved, giving her the impression the Royal Army is set to march.

I'm not sure how many men those flags for the Rebels represent, but its obvious they are making to make a push against us.

Without hesitation she grabs her House flag, and puts it next to the Royal Banner,

"Lady McKaeyln! What do you think you are doing?" A man with messy blond hair asks her with an irritated tone, draw everyone's attention to her and her and the placement of her flag.

Liam's face drops seeing the House Banner where it is, and asks her if she knows what she's doing.

"You all think because I'm a woman I don't know how to read a battle map? You are all too busy arguing to decide who marches forth!" She says with a firm tone.

The brown haired man, hand resting on his sword, sighs before speaking,

"Mi'lady, I feel that you'd be better suited to take the Vanguard-" Kara cuts him off,

"What if your name, Sire?" He stands there, with a visible look of confusion, but answers the question: Sire Williams, House Creel of Galdrek.

"Your father served my father as a Bannerman, did he not? Now you served my husband as your father served my father, and did either of them stay in the rear where it was safe? My father led from the front, and so will I." She asks locking eyes with him.

Marcus leans in, whispering to her reminding her that they rode all night, and she should really rest before making such a decision.

"I'm fine. I refuse to look weak in front of them by sleeping while they are fighting! No, I will march with them." She leaves little room for debate, he sighs saying, very well.

Liam puts his hand on her shoulder, asking her if she's sure about the decision she's making. She nods her head, telling him she is.

"You have your mothers spirit, Kara. And your father would be proud." he smiles slightly at her, looking back the others.

"I march with my Niece!" He shouts with a firm tone, Marcus stands beside her as well showing his committed supported.

Three of the Bannermen present are visibly displeased, while the other two are neutral in expression, and the General in charge of the Royal Army at the end of the table wearing fancy plate armour, with a cape in the colour scheme of the Royal Banner with black hair and brown eyes.

"Very well, Mi'lady. We'll ready our forces." Williams says with a low tone, knowing they don't have much choice.

Kara walks out of the tent, while the Bannermen remain inside all feeling conflicted about their new Commander. Williams placing his hands on the table sighing, with the others showing mixed expressions.

"Good luck to you lot, you'll be needing it with that woman leading you!" The General says mockingly while laughing out of the tent.

William mutters in Gaelic under his breath, Cùl Tòna! as the tent flops close behind the General. Cùl Tòna being an somewhat offensive word, meaning dickhead in a sense.

"What are we going to do? You can't be serious about following her, are you?" The blond haired man asks Williams with a frantic tone.

"We don't exactly have a choice, Cullan. Like it or not she's in charge. And with Liam, and Marcus obviously supporting her Command we don't have any options that end with us keeping our heads. Don't know about you but I don't exactly want to be tried as an Oathbreaker." Williams replies still leaning against the table, Cullan mutters under his breath obviously discontent with the situation.

Meanwhile, Kara, and the others, along with the woman from the Creek enter tent, its the same tent that aidan stayed in: a fine bed off the ground with a genuine blank, pillow and chest at the end of the end. A dark oak wooden table, and chair with various small items on the table, and small fur rug running from the side of the bed to just behind the chair.

Liam, and Marcus stay back while Kara walks inside, taking in the view of the layout, she walks up to the chest and opens it: inside are some of aidans cloths, and a couple books from home. A tear runs down her cheek going through the chest.

Liam leaves, while Marcus, and the woman walk inside while Kara inspects the rest of the space, and sees the armour Aidan was wearing: the blood stained onto it, and a patch in the back where the wound was that took his life and her heart aches seeing it. Her sadness is quickly overtaken by anger.

Aidan was an honourable man, he fought with Honour, and died with it. The honourless bastard who killed him won't die a fast death! I will make him suffer, make him feel every bit of pain I have felt!

Kara begins putting on her armour, with Marcus helping her at certain points where she has visible issues. Her armour is studded to make riding with armour easier, and not weigh down her horse. She stands in front of a mirror next to Aidan's armour stand while she ties the sword to her waist, and grabs her helmet. She turns to face Marcus who takes a long look at her when she asks him what he thinks,

"That armour suits you, your father would be proud to see you wearing it." He knows she would rather be wearing Aidan's armour but it's not possible.

She looks like a leader, she just has to earn that title. Her father taught her well, I just hope she's ready for this.

He adjusts the armour a little bit to make sure it's sitting right and properly, their eyes meet for a moment and they can see the worry in each other's eyes. Marcus puts his hand on her shoulder looking into her eyes,

"Stay close, okay? You stay right next to me, and the others." He says with a worried tone, trying not to let too much of his show but she sees it. She gives him a reassuring smile saying, I will.

Liam enters the tent telling them the Lords, and Banners are readying to march. Kara takes a deep breath before marching out of her tent, telling the woman to get herself cleaned up while she's away. Liam leaves behind Kara but Marcus doesn't leave yet. He tells the woman to wait a moment, and writes on a piece of parchment sitting on the desk.

"Here, take this. Give this to the smith, tell him it's a special request from Sire Cnaith and is to be done without delay." Handing her the folded parchment, she takes it and says she'll take it immediately.

Marcus leaves the tent ahead of the woman, and mounts his horse beside Kara, and Liam feels nervous about Kara officially taking command of the army. They made their way through the fortified camp, and the true scale of it begins to dawn on Kara with her army totaling just two-thousand of the countless thousands in the camp she begins to feel the pressure: with a couple obvious exceptions such as the royal army, the vast majority of the soldier here are under the command of her Bannermen, who are under her command.

This camp is massive! Far bigger than I had expected it to be... all these men are expecting me to lead them into battle...

She closes her eyes for a moment, and flashes back to the day Aidan's body was brought back to their home, her heart begins to beat steadily as she opens her eyes feeling the fury burning deep within her as they ride through another gate that leads out into the field that separates the valley's. They gallop to where the army has gathered, what she sees shocks her: the whole two-thousand strong army. Hundreds of calvary, archery, and countless foot soldiers.

All at my command! Every one of these men swore to my command! An army loyal by oath who will deliver me my revenge.

The three of them ride to the front of the army where the House Guard are waiting for them, the flags and banners flapping as the wind blows through. Kara takes place at the front of the army, flanked with Marcus and Liam beside her, and the House Guard behind her. She yells out, FORWARD! Other voices yell out the same order in a chain. Marching footsteps from the soldiers and the horses, and the sound of the armour clanking quickly becomes the only thing that can be heard, with a trail of dust being left behind as the army marches on to face the enemy.