A Light Through the Dark

The war horns of his people trumpeted across the wide open plain, signaling the enemy’s approach.
Beneath him, his jet-black steed stirred restlessly, eager for the ride into battle. The large numbers of armored men around him were also impatient for war. He did not share their enthusiasm. He was not a hero.
Dread filled Elmir’s heart as he gazed at the black, marching shape growing on the bloody horizon. He judged the army to be twenty minutes away at least. It was just enough time for night to drape its dark cloak upon the land. It was as he’d feared; a battle at nightfall.
As if war in itself wasn’t bad enough, now they would be forced to fight in darkness. It was a great advantage for the enemy, who were natural inhabitants of a dark land. Their eyes were keenest at night and then they had their night spells, that ability to conjure tricks with the dark that played on the imagination.
Elmir glanced around, uneasy.
Every man had an eye on the dark shape closing in. He could simply slip back and ride off; no one would ever notice.
Elmir gripped the reins and as he began to pull them back…
A heavy hand, like the hand of God, fell on his shoulder.
“Steady on.”
“It’s suicide.” Elmir said, firmly.
“It’s worth dying for.”
“What is?” he snapped. “King and country?”
“Beth.”
The name struck a deep, sweet cord in his heart. Resolve quickened and dread ebbed away. He understood what fleeing would have meant. Why he hadn’t seen it before he didn’t know.
“If we fail here,” his comrade said. “She will die.”
Elmir turned a meaningful look on the man. “We will not fail.”
Beth. It was the light he needed through the darkness.