[ IP ] ... should never have been your burden , my warrior

Redmond stood, tired from battle and defeated from strife. His head was bleeding underneath of his helmet and the sting of blood mixed with sweat plagued his eyes as he felt his heart finish breaking. Ten hours. The war took ten hours. He was one of the leaders of fierce and ferocious men, fighting for the very land he was standing on. Was it futile? So many lives spent, so many forever changed. The smell of smoke filled the air as embers from the sky fell like rain, fires surrounding the battlefield. 
 
 `` My lord, the enemy is retreating but have plans to attack again in a week, shall we fall back or stay?'' The young man reported, helmet off and blood staining his cloak. 
 
 `` Fall back,'' was all the noble man said. The young man nodded and walked away, returning to inform the remaining warriors about Lord Redmond's decision. He needed to strategize. 
 
 -- -- 
 
 Lord Redmond made it back to his wife and daughter, the repercussions of battle weighing heavily on his shoulders. One thousand men went into this fight, but only two hundred returned to their family and back to their village. As a respected leader, it was his duty to make sure plans worked. This time it did n't. They lost too many. 
 
 `` My love, do not feel ashamed for what you have done,'' Aryn soothed, wrapping her arms around his body still encased in heavy armor. She laid her head on his back and he felt her thick hair hit against the metal. 
 
 `` I am at fault,'' Redmond sighed as he rested his hands against the railing on top of the staircase. `` These men went into this fight and died. Now their families are without them. I'm not sure which is more of a burden, the loss of my men or the thought of their families,'' he said with anger and frustration. 
 
 `` Those men knew what they were following you into battle for... It should never have been your burden, my warrior...'' Aryn whispered.
