Stepping through the gates of the monastery Artanis knelt before the altar and prayed for forgiveness. He prayed that he would be forgiven for the lives he took in battle. He prayed that their souls may find eternal rest and that his would not be judged harshly for his actions in the name of the lord. Parting his robe slightly Artanis lifted a large bag of coin and placed it into the donation pot "my lord I give to you my meager earnings so we may better those within our church and any you deem..." He was interrupted by a scream of a dying man. Turning his head behind him to see out the church doors and arrows raining from the sky. Bowing his head again he spoke softly "my lord forgive me for the sin of killing, and may you have mercy upon mine enemies for I shall impart none to them" He turned quickly and darted out of the doorway.
When he stepped into the courtyard where just minutes ago it was quiet, you could hear the whisper of angels upon the wind it was so peaceful. Now screams of the dying filled the air and small fires were breaking out around the hovels that served as housing for the poor and the knights alike. The people were scattered running around in a panic but he saw a line of knights near the gate holding the intruders back for now. Making his way toward the shield wall he saw the one acting in charge was a Hospitaller, his confusion must have shown because the knight said
"Any who would attack a holy place is enemy of the Knights Hospitaller" Nodding in understanding Artanis said
"Good sir knight can you hold this gate so I may pull the innocent into our cellar for their safety?" The knight responded with a smile
"I will push them to hell, Alright boys lets give them a little holy retribution" He pulled his helmet down and encouraged a couple occitan warriors that came to the monastery for shelter just hours before to charge with him along with those able to carry weapons among the citizens there. They surged forward as the outer gate unhinged and fell the initial wave of soldiers but they were still coming strong, someones blue armor caught his eye but he had more pressing tasks at hand. Artanis was retreating back toward the monastery gathering the families, that were running in a panic or huddling in fear, back into the main room of the church. As he entered a glint from above caught his eye and he looked up just in time to side step an archers gift but sadly the man behind him was less lucky as he fell with the bolt in his chest, with his heart punctured he died quickly but less then pleasantly.
"Everyone Move aside, get under cover!" Artanis called out as he moved under the balcony before another bolt could be loosed. "Brother" He yelled at one of the alter boys "Please take everyone into the cellar, if things sound bad up here begin to funnel them through the tunnels. I will take care of this fiend" The boy nodded and was leading everyone behind the deity's alter but Artanis had his eyes set upward as he climbed the stairs. He could not see the man but knew he was still up there by the gentle footsteps above. With his sword drawn and eyes keenly looking he ventured onto the roof, he moved carefully but quickly around the rooftop trying to find the crossbowman that murdered the innocent below him. Suddenly he heard a thud and looked to his left seeing the man sliding down the roof, he had slipped near the top, but he caught himself by digging his dagger into the tiles. Artanis was already halfway there when the man brought up his wooden sin machine and fired. Ducking and dodging to the side the bolt flew harmlessly past digging into the roof behind Artanis. Sword pulled back while scowling at the murderer Artanis buried the blade into the mans chest listening to his last raspy breaths before the corpse fell limp. He felt no pleasure in the kill and kicked the body off his sword but grabbed it before it fell into the pews below. The armor caught his eye and he saw what he feared before.
It was the armor of the Cross, the dragon displayed proudly on the chest "those Bastards" He cursed them letting go of the body, but pinned it with his own dagger so it hopefully wouldn't fall below. He crossed the roof to look out at the gate and saw to his dismay the battle wasn't going well. They had pushed up into the courtyard and he saw the Hospitallers bright red armor and he was still valiantly fighting along with one the the occitans, the other was injured and moved back into the Monastery to tend his wounds and be the final defense. Artanis was looking around trying to figure out how to be of use when he noticed footmen below him running toward the side stairs leading to the roof he was at. Keeping hidden he waited at the top of the stairs and when the first soldier reached the top he jumped forward slashing his throat out, blood splattering out from the wound, he fall backward on the people behind knocking them backwards but they were just able to hold themselves upright. Artanis smiled a little and jumped onto the corpse knocking everyone down and slide down the stairs, they fell off the sides and back of the stairs landing on the ground with a sickening thud. He drew his sword back to stab one of the soldiers but the corpse shifted under his feet causing him to lose his balance and fall off the side of the stairs himself.
He slammed his shoulder into the stairs edge, cracking it, and was able to grab it before falling to his demise. His arm burned from the hit and effort but he knew he couldn't let go, his right hand gripped his sword tightly he also couldn't let this go. He was weakening fast and the wood was cracking more, his arm was searing, his grip lessening and moments before his strength gave out someone grabbed his arm and held him there. Relief washed over his body as he awaited to see his savior, he chucked a little too, but a gruff voice chucked back
"you better get the grin off your face boy" One of the soldiers had not fallen off the side and was staring at Artanis with a grin of his own "that was my brother you rode down those stairs, and I'm gonna make you pay" His smile grew and his dark eyes told a story of pain and agony. He leaned close to the edge to peer over it better, licking his lips in anticipation as he drew a dagger from his belt.
"I'd rather not" Artanis said simply and he pulled up with all his strength pushing his sword into the mans eye and head. The brute let out an awful scream, releasing, his grip on Artanis to grab his face. The stair cracked on final time and gave way dropping Artanis, his sword sliding free from the mans face. The man stood up grabbing his head, coughing on blood and blind with pain, he tripped on his brother causing him to fall after Artanis.
"Please Lord PROTECT ME!!" Artanis screamed out and he tried to grab the flight of stairs below him, he grabbed them but wasn't able to get a good grip, he was falling too fast, and he slipped free. He was slowed enough so the fall against the roof of the house below only knocked the wind out of him. Dazed and choking he was sliding off this roof with barely any strength left he drove his blade into the roof slowing his slide eventually stopping himself on the edge, dangling off slightly.
"Ack" he coughed "tha..*Wheeze* you...*cough Cough* Lord" He was choking but still alive but didn't get much time to be thankful as he had another attempt against his life. The man who tried to cut him on the stairs had landed head first above Artanis, his neck cracking loudly, and began to roll down the roof at Artanis. With only seconds to think he was hit by the body, his sword knocked free it flew toward the ground with him in persuit. He grabbed the dead body and moved it below him as he fell so it would take the impact. They hit the ground hard, Artanis's shoulder slammed into the mans back, he could hear the ribs crack, and the rest of his body crumpled after.
All he saw was darkness.
All he could hear was silence.
He could see his family again, vaguely.
It was all he wanted. He was in heaven.
