The Army That Was Waiting For Me

The first thing Brenda noticed when she reached the battlefield was the noise.

Thousands of voices.

Thousands of footsteps.

The clatter of weapons.

The distant roar of something that sounded less like a human voice and more like a beast tearing through a mountain.

Brenda stopped running.

Her chest heaved.

She stared across the enormous field.

Thousands of elves stood in formation.

Bows were strapped across their backs. Spears rested against their shoulders. Some wore elaborate armor while others wore lighter battle clothing.

And every single one of them was looking in her direction.

Brenda swallowed.

Oh no.

A tall elf with dark hair approached her.

“Averly.”

Brenda pointed at herself.

“Me?”

Steve frowned.

“Yes. You.”

“Oh.”

Brenda looked around.

“Where's the actual Averly?”

Steve's expression became even more confused.

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.”

Great. Fantastic. I'm definitely going to die.

Steve glanced toward the army.

“We've been waiting.”

“Right.”

Brenda smiled nervously.

“Sorry.”

Steve stared at her.

“What were you doing?”

“I…”

She couldn't exactly say she'd been reincarnated yesterday.

“I got lost.”

Silence.

Steve blinked.

“You got lost?”

“Yes.”

“You have lived here your entire life.”

Brenda's smile became weaker.

“I'm having a bad day.”

Steve stared at her for another moment before sighing.

“We'll discuss it later.”

He turned toward the army.

“Everyone is ready.”

Brenda looked at the thousands of soldiers.

Everyone?

She suddenly understood.

They weren't waiting for an officer.

They were waiting for her.

Her stomach dropped.

A voice rang across the battlefield.

“THE ORCS ARE MOVING!”

The elves immediately became alert.

Steve raised his hand.

“Prepare yourselves!”

Brenda's heart began hammering.

She looked toward the horizon.

At first, she saw nothing.

Then the ground shook.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Shapes appeared in the distance.

Large shapes.

Very large shapes.

Orcs.

They marched toward the elves carrying enormous weapons. Their bodies were covered in crude armor, and their tusks protruded from their mouths.

Brenda's mouth fell open.

“Those are… actually orcs.”

Steve looked at her.

“You sound surprised.”

“I've never seen one before.”

“Neither have I.”

Brenda slowly turned.

“What?”

Steve smiled.

“I was joking.”

“Oh.”

These people have terrible timing.

The orcs suddenly roared.

The elves answered.

Steve raised his weapon.

“FOR ELVERIA!”

Thousands of elves shouted.

Brenda's heart jumped.

This was real.

Not a movie.

Not a game.

Not some fantasy story.

Real people were about to fight.

And somehow, she was supposed to lead them.

Steve looked toward her.

“Averly.”

Brenda froze.

“Yes?”

“Give the command.”

Her brain stopped functioning.

“What command?”

Steve's eyebrows rose.

“The attack.”

“Right.”

Brenda looked at the army.

Thousands of faces waited for her.

She remembered every fantasy movie she'd ever watched.

She raised her arm.

“CHARGE!”

Nothing happened.

The elves stared at her.

Brenda's arm slowly dropped.

That was embarrassing.

Then an elf several rows behind her shouted:

“FOR THE GLORY OF ELVERIA!”

The entire army erupted.

“FOR ELVERIA!”

They charged.

Brenda stared.

Then whispered:

“…Thank you, random elf.”

And ran after them.