Siege of Marnot (1356)

Henry was sitting in the deserted street, staring at the merchant in his tent, selling his things. But what captured the boy’s attention was a big slice of bread on a table, by the man’s side. He was observing prepared to make his move. Time passed and, suddenly, the merchant turned around to face other customer. This was the poor boy’s opportunity.

As fast as lightning, he ran towards the tent and quickly grabbed the bread. On the moment the merchant saw him running, he was already too far away. The boy fled to his house, skipping the streets and arrived there ten minutes after the robbery.

His mother was bathing his little brother, while his sister was playing with some old dolls. When they saw the bread Henry was carrying, both, the sister and the mother, approached him and thanked God for having food for one more day. Even though stealing was wrong, in such times, what was right and what was wrong didn’t matter.

The city they lived, Marnot, was under siege by the forces of the Eastern Governor Jadet for five months. Although it was constantly attacked by cannons and trebuchets, the worst part was the lack of food and health life. When a city was surrounded in such way, all trade routes were blocked, therefore causing an end to food supply.

Also, the enemy usually threw dead horses and dogs in order to spread disease among the population. The city had been suffering from a deadly sickness since the two first months of siege. Many had died and it was not difficult to be sick. Once you were affected, there was no more hope. The victim usually died in a few days.

Henry cared about his family very much. He was only seventeen, but yet the only man, except for his little brother. His father died just after his brother’s birth, and since then, he was the one that gathered food, that worked in the centre of the city and that took care of his mother, sister and brother.

He had a strong muscly body, because of the hard work he had. His hair was brown, the same color of his eyes. He was the tallest of his family, and also very sensible. Though he did not know how to write nor read, nor had he any study about philosophical subjects, he had some interesting thoughts.

Why the majority were the poorest ones, while a small group were rich, had the best clothing, the best food and did not even work hard? Why he was affected by the war, if he had nothing to do with it? Why did Kings and Queens commanded and he had to obey? Why? Why? Why?

Those were the very thoughts of this young man with a sense of change. After they divided the bread he had stolen, his mother finished bathing his little brother, who was only two. His six-little-year-old sister came over to him:

- Henry, are we going to die?

He looked surprised to her. Children always said what they want, no matter what others would think about it nor the consequences.

- No, we are not.

- Are you sure? – she was almost crying.

- I am. I promise, by my life, that you will not die. And that they will not conquer us. I will fight if I must to keep you all safe. – he held her strongly in his arms. – I love you, Cath.

- I love you too, Henry.

While both of them were there, hugging each other, their mother looked at them, and she couldn’t avoid the tears falling from her eyes. That was not what she wanted. She wished her children to be happy, healthy and living well. At that moment, she wanted back her husband, and cried even more over his remembrance.

But, then, all three heard steps along the street. Henry headed to window and looked at the folk running to the center. ‘Something important must be happening’, he thought.

- I will see what it is. Wait for me here. Do not leave the house. And, if I am not back in ten minutes, hide and stay there as much as you can. I love you all.

He followed the others to the place. It was not very far from his home, and when he arrived he could see the governor of the city, Sir Howard IV, over a balcony, looking at the population. By his side, many others nobles were there and, in the ground, where the folk were, you could see soldiers armed.

- Citizens of Marnot. – Howard shouted. – These are dire times, of course. We are being constantly attacked by cannons and diseases. Our soldiers have showed great bravery in the battlefield, when they are needed. But, yet, we have lost many men and we need more soldiers. From now on, all men over sixteen will join the army and defend our city. We need you to defend your home and your families. We pro…

- NOW YOU NEED US, YOU BASTARD! – a man in the mob shouted, insulting the governor. But, just as he said, three soldiers got near him and beat him hard, making him bleed in front of everyone.

- I hope no more… inconveniences will appear. Now, all of you over sixteen must report to the Marshall’s Officer to register in the army.

Henry was terrified. Yes, he had promised his sister he would fight, but fear filled his heart at the moment. He did not want to fight, he did not want to die. But, the most important reason, he did not want to become the nobles’ puppet, just like those men that beat that poor man.

The Governor was just leaving the balcony when a huge sound echoed in the air. A giant flaming ball just flew over everyone’s head and hit one building in the main street. Panic entered the people’s hearts and all of them started running anywhere, just trying to escape the attack.

More balls joined the first and fire fell upon the city. Scattered citizens died burning. Great buildings were being destroyed. A brigade of people started to help bringing water to extinguish the fire. Henry arrived in his house, and saw his family in the ground, afraid from the fire. His appearance made they all come and hug him.

- Mom, get Cath and Dean and flee to the hideout. Stay there and do not leave.

- Aren’t you coming?

- No, I will fight. It is a new order. There is no time to explain. Run.

His mother hugged him and kissed in the cheek.

- I love you, sweetheart.

- I love you too, mom.

He watched his poor family fleeing and thought that could be the last time he would see them. But he let no tears fall, he would be strong in these times. So, Henry went to the Marshall’s Office to get weapons and arm himself. The walls were so weak, that they would probably fall today. And then the enemy would invade.

When he arrived there, weapons and armor were being distributed fast. He just said his name and age and received a light armor, a sword, a spear and a light shield. He was sent to guard the walls from topside. And so he did. But when he arrived there and saw the enemy army, he lost faith.

They were uncountable. So many as the sand in the sea even thought he had never seen the sea. They were heavily armed, while he and the defenders only had light equipment. They had no chance against such a mighty host of attackers.

He saw trebuchets and cannons fire balls into their direction. Men dying burned, others by arrows, others by suicide, jumping from the high walls. But, he noticed the enemy wouldn’t just wait the walls to fall. The whole army was moving as one to the walls, carrying ladders and transporting siege towers.

And they arrived. Henry just panicked. He saw what truly was war. Not those tales of brave knights fighting for their country and saving princesses. War was awful. Men lost their members, cried for their mothers. Blood was everywhere. And what people do not tell you about war is that it is not an easy thing to kill a person.

To take someone’s life, to make her family cry at home. But, however, if you do not do that, you will die too. In the end, it is just horrible. A siege tower got near the wall he was and, just as the wooden door opened, savage men left wielding deadly weapons and killing whatever was in their way.

He lifted his shield and his spear. Pushed forward the lance, penetrating one of them right in his throat, and just watched as the blood spilled in the ground. Then, he threw the spear to door of the tower, hitting another one. One enemy was just going to attack him from the rear, when he was hit by an arrow.

Henry then took out his sword and charged at the enemies, shouting loudly. But his battle cry was just one in the middle of the fight. He hit one man with the shield and quickly attacked other with the sword. This way he continued fighting fiercely.

He had never fought before, but yet, he was killing many. He had a lot of luck, but also agility. He knew he couldn’t kill all of them, so he slowly headed to the ground, off the wall. Just as he was trying to retreat, he heard a seargent command:

- Retreat, retreat! Regroup in the Office, there we will… - an arrow through his throat interrupted the order. But the men understood and started to run away as fast as they could.

Henry saw that as an opportunity to see his family and flee from that city, to anywhere but there. As he ran through the streets, he saw desperate families crying, running and dying. Their family’s hideout was secret: Henry had found it some time ago, after the start of the siege.

When he arrived there, he heard a loud sound. A wall fell. Now he knew it was only a matter of time until the whole city fell. And he knew it would not be done peacefully. The enemy’s leader, Jadet, was known to be brutal and savage, to pillage and sack everywhere he attacked and to rape women and kill children.

When he saw his family, any of them said anything. They all just held each other together, giving hope. The screams were each time louder and louder, the smoke continuously was flying over the sky and population was getting smaller and smaller.

In a moment, all was quiet. It seemed the attack was over. They just waited there quietly. Men passed by and he was glad none noticed the hideout. But, his luck was not infinite.

Thirty minutes after the end of the attack, two drunken soldiers accidentally discovered the place. He left his mother’s arms and took a blow to one and quickly penetrated the other. He did not want his sister to see him murdering, but he had to.

- We cannot stay here. Let’s move to East Gate and flee. They will find us if we stay.

They slowly moved, using what cover they could find. They passed through guards and headed first to the center. When they arrived there, they saw the governor hung in a tree. In that moment, they knew there would be no mercy if they were caught.

But, also, at that moment, the little Dean cried. He started to cry so loud that it attracted the enemy’s attention. Three started to run after them, while two archers fired arrows. They fled fast. But more soldiers joined the pursuit.

When they were almost in the East Gate, ten infantry men blocked their way in the front, while other ten were in the rear. Archers were also aiming at them. Henry looked at his mother, sister and brother.

- I love you all.

An arrow flew from a bow, hitting directly the little baby in the mother’s arm. Another one just followed the first, right through the mother’s belly, and even other penetrated the sister’s head.

Henry did not cry. Nor move. Nor talk. He lost faith in humanity. He just closed his eyes and felt a pain in the belly and other in the arm. Just as he fell in the ground, he looked once more to sky, and saw a light growing and coming to his direction. He saw his father, his mother, his sister and his little brother altogether, waiting for him. He closed his eyes and smiled, joining them.