ML C9, P8- "An Uneasy Alliance"

"An Uneasy Alliance" is the eighth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's ninth Chapter- "King Of Hearts". It was released on 28.04.2020.
== Plot ==
After successfully finding their way past Mordreg's Pass and leaving the infested place behind, our remaining heroes are forced to fight another large wave of giants.
Their forces exausted, most of them left dead at the pass, the remaining soldiers have to build up new strength to fight another obstacle that blocks the way to the city of Bargha- the place where Farrar, the enemy of Avernum and the whole world, resides and rests.
However, an earthshattering change happens when one of the giants offers a tempting offer to Jared and his allies- an offer that they might not be able to refuse.
== Story ==
After a few days of walking, our heroes feel like they are very close to the city.
However, they keep seeing various humanoids in the distance ahead. That is a worrying sight.
"Jared, I'm scared."- Annie says to her friend.
Jared sighs and turns to look at her.
"I know, Annie, but we must keep fighting. Avernum depends on us and we cannot stop halfway."
"Plus, we're a smaller force now."- John adds- "This will make infiltrating the city from behind a piece of cake."
"Mmm, cake."
Jared giggles.
"You really love cake, don't you John?"
John smiles.
"When I was little, my mother used to bake me cake. Very delicious cake. Its taste made my mouth water and my tongue feel its sweet taste. It was so good that I could still feel the taste after it was eaten. Sometimes, that taste lasted for days, weeks and rarely even months!"
He looks ahead.
"I've heard that Avernum's chefs can bake really delicious cake. Or, at least, that's what the soldiers in Formello told me. One day, when this nightmare of a battle is finally over and Farrar is gone, I would like to try out one of those cakes, see if it's as good as the soldiers claim it to be."
Annie nods.
"As far as I know, it's a rarity to even find the materials for making it. Good luck."
John smiles and nods. Then he looks ahead once again.
"But first."- He continues- "We must finish this assault and take Farrar down. Avernum depends on us. We, my friends, are its last hope right now, the last pillars of light that will illuminate the darkness. We... are the saviors who will keep this land safe from its enemies."
He turns to Jared and Annie.
"So. Are you two ready to take this weasel down once and for all?"
Jared nods enthusiasticlly.
"I've been waiting for this moment for so long. Ever since he wounded me a year ago, I vowed to take my revenge and kill him. But... this won't be for me. Yes, I will have my revenge, but the safety of Avernum's citizens is much more important than that. 
"But, please promise me this... "- He turns to his friends- "When we find Farrar and when we bring him down, please let me be the hand that ends his life."
John and Annie nod.
"Of course we will."- John responds- "You're the hero, after all."
Jared smiles and continues looking forward towards the city of Bargha.
Meanwhile, Commander Jones and his brother, Jim talk about the trouble they had to go through to see each other one more time.
"For so long, I've been looking for you."- Jim says- "For so long, I've been scared that you would be dead, that I don't want to see you dead."
"But then, when I was at my worst, I regained my resolve. Because I knew that, alive or dead, good or evil, you are still my brother and that I wanted to see your face at least one last time."
Commander Jones smiles and hugs his brother.
"It's the same for me, dear brother."- He says- "You were always the voice of reason and I always respected your decisions."
"But now, I am the voice of reason and the people of Formello depend on me to lead them."
Jim smiles.
"Like I said before, you were born to be a leader, brother. And I think that this finally came true when you grabbed this prestigious opportunity."
"Yes, yes. I know."- Commander Jones says and looks up.
"I just... I just wish that the rest of my soldiers from Fort Duvno would still be alive to see me now, at this pivotal moment. But, even then, I know that they're safe up there- in Heaven. I know that nobody will try to hurt them anymore, that nobody will bark orders at them, like I have before. No, they're not here anymore, Jim. I'm here and they are not. Life moves on and we cannot stop it."
Jim nods.
"I agree. Now let's finish those fools off and go back home, so we can have a long talk about... everything."
Commander Jones nods and smiles.
"I am looking forward to that."- He says.
The two of them notice that they've slowed down and get back in line.
Meanwhile, somewhere at the back of the line, Barin and Aimee wonder what kind of a future awaits them.
"I'm so worried right now."- Aimee says to her brother- "This is nothing that we've experienced before in the Empire. This battle may be the last one for one of us... or both of us."
Barin raises his eyebrow.
"Don't say that, little sister. You know how much it breaks my heart when you say that you're afraid. What I will tell you now is that you shouldn't be afraid. Look, I know that you are, but this is not the time for that. Fear makes us weaker, more dependent. It makes us do things that we normally wouldn't do. It's scary."
"But together, I know that we can overcome this fear and be heroes, just like Mr. Kaos. I know that we can and we will!"
"So, don't be afraid. I'm right here and I will protect you until my last breath."
"Same stands for me, big bro."- Aimee answers and stops to look at something the others are looking at.
In the front line, Jared, John and Annie are shocked to see that some of the giants have somehow escaped the pass and blocked their way.
They draw their clubs.
"You killed our brothers!"- One of them yells- "It's payback time!"
They charge at the surprised heroes.
However, Jared acts quickly and takes two of them down with his energy sword.
He hears something coming from further ahead and gets worried.
"Kill them quickly!"- He tells his allies- "I think we might attract unwanted attention if we don't."
Everyone nods and works together to take out the giants.
Unfortunately, one of them manages to strike a soldier with its club and kill him. However, a soldier behind it quickly stabs it in the back of the head in revenge.
Meanwhile, Jared swings his sword at a large number of giants, easily taking down most of them while John takes out the rest of the giants.
The two of them look at each other dramatically.
"Get ready."- Jared says- "I think that I hear more of them coming for us from nearby."
John nods.
"Yes. I am always ready. Let's do this."- He says and swings his blade just as a giant tries to hit him with its club, killing it.
Soon, most of the giants have died, having been slain by the brave heroes. The rest of them are dying on the ground, mortally wounded.
Just as Jared decides to kill them out of mercy, he freezes when he hears a deafening scream.
"Stop!"- A yell echoes in the night.
A huge giant approaches the heroes.
Jared has enough time to look at him. Judging from his appearance, he looks like he is male. Like most of the giants, he is big. However, unlike them, he is much bigger and stronger and wears better armor.
"Wait a second... "- Jared says to himself- "Is he... their leader?"
Just as his allies draw their weapons to attack the giant, he sees that the huge creature doesn't draw his weapon back. Instead, he kneels and looks at his fallen allies, huge tears falling from his eyes as he does so.
"Wait! Don't kill him!"- Jared tells his allies.
Once he's made sure that nobody will attack him, he turns to the giant.
"Are you... the leader of this band of giants?"
The giant turns around and nods.
"I'm the leader of all giants in this here area. But now you... you butchered them. We wanted peace, but... but my brothers were foolish enough to attack you instead."
He looks at Jared.
"I was hoping to tell you our story, but it seems like that's not going to happen."- He says and looks down sadly at his sheathed weapon.
John smirks.
"We don't have time to hear some bedtime stories from you, wretched creature."- He says coldly- "You can either leave this area and never return or die with your friends."
Jared gets angry and looks at John.
"Shush, John!"- He tells him and turns to look at the huge giant once again.
"We want to hear about your story. Can you please tell us about it?"
John sighs.
"Oh, boy. Here we go."
The giant leader nods.
"We, the giants have been the guardians of this region for a very long time, ever since the first explorers came. We witnessed how the mighty titan Mordreg crushed some of the Empire's first adventurers. When he was done with them, we went there and we took them away. We buried them with the highest honors."
"However, many years later, when the humans started to settle most of the underworld, their misfits came here and found us. Some of them saw us as a threat. However, one of the men looked closely at us and noticed our potential. He made a deal with us, to help him guard the region from intruders in exchange for lots of gold and fame."
"And that's our short story- the story of the giants of Western Avernum. Until now, we guard the region and we destroy anyone who tries to harm the current leader of Bargha- Farrar."
Jared shakes his head.
"You look like you're just a confused creature, a kindred soul, but trust me about this. You are working for the wrong side. Farrar is deranged, hostile, unable to make good decisions and wants to have the whole Avernum all for himself. He is a cruel leader and is not someone you should be working for."
"So, please. Listen to me. If you want your lands to be truly safe once again, help me defeat Farrar and his army. Of course, we won't force you to do so. If you want to help, feel free. But if you don't, please stay out of our way. We don't want to harm any of you."
The giant leader nods.
"Yeah. I know that it's hand. Normally, I'd refuse you and kill you on the spot. But now that this mad pothead's on the run? We must fight together, even though you're humans and we're giants."
"We will help you, but only if you promise that Bargha will be under our control afterwards. We don't want any of your Avernum soldiers trying to take over it. We're sick and tired of watching people destroy and take for themselves. We cannot pretend anymore."
Jared nods.
"The western lands, including Bargha will be for you and your giants. I promise that no humans will roam in them."
"But... I want you to promise something to me as well."
The giant leader leans down.
"A promise, you say?"
Jared nods.
"I want you to promise me that you won't hurt the citizens of the other remaining city of the Abyss- the city of Spire. I want you and your friends to keep it safe and kill anyone who tries to harm them."
The giant leader nods.
"Very well. I think that my giants will be up for the task, as soon as we're done with the fools at Bargha."
"Then it is a deal."- Jared says and shakes the giant's huge hand.
Everyone stares at the two, shocked about what just happened in front of them.
The huge giant whistles for his allies to come out.
Suddenly, giants start to reveal themselves both in front and behind our heroes. Their weapons are drawn.
The giant leader realizes it immediately and raises his hands.
"No! No! Don't hurt them!"- He says- "They're our allies now!"
The giants drop their clubs and stare coldly at the heroes.
"My giants will help you now. I hope that you will keep your promise, young hero person."
Jared nods.
"You can count on that. But now it is time for us to work together and destroy this menace once and for all."
"Let's do this!"
Everyone (including the giants) lets out a loud cheer that echoes in the deep, dark night.
They walk forward.
When Jared joins the giant leader in the front line, he cannot help but notice how one of the giant warriors is looking at him coldly. He stares away in fear.
"Oh, man."- He says to himself- "Giants are scary when they're angry!"
"But there's no need to worry about them trying to kill us anymore, as long as their leader keeps them in line. Now, we are working together to defeat our mutual enemy."
"And we will, now that there are so many of us."
Our heroes, both human and giants get close to the walls of the city of Bargha. There, they see a lot of guards scattered on the walls above them.
The bandits aim their bows at them.
One of the men is the treacherous soldier that Jared saw earlier- Nicholas.
"Welcome, Jared."- He says and grins- "Welcome... to your worst nightmare!"