the ballad of the 12 warriors bridge

In the land of Charon lies the village of Tanstone, named for the color of stone the village is made of. Near the village is bridge, once know as Tanstone bridge, that crosses the rapidly flowing Casaan river. One morning, a wounded man crossed the bridge with a girl and a small boy, he was recognized as a farmer from a neighboring village, they then noticed smoke rising from the direction of the other village. People rushed to his aid and he told them that a great horde had come from the north, they were busy raping and pillaging before destroying all that remained. Those not killed would be taken to the slave markets in the northern lands of chessik. The villagers did not know what to do, some wanted to run, some to try to negotiate, some wanted to somehow block the bridge. Among the villagers were 12 who grew not grain, vegetable, or fruit in there garden, but flowers, they were old men and women to old to work the fields. The oldest of them spoke and said "A handful of farmers could hold the bridge, for it is narrow, so narrow that only goat carts can cross it, and even then only one at a time". The village blacksmith said "For how long? we are a tiny village with no militia here. The nearest is a company over in Clamouth, a week there and back". "Send the fastest runner, for we can hold the bridge for at least 12 days". was the spokesman's reply. The next day the horde arrived on the other side of the river and the first of the old men walked out onto the bridge, the village was stunned for he wore resplendent silver armor with badges and metals and he wore a red banner with a yellow rose, he carried a yellow rose in his hands. He walked out till he stood 2/3 of the way across, took of his banner and placed it on the ground, then steeped over it and there he stopped and began to study the flower. The horde had been as startled and confused as the villagers and had stood still till then. Now they charged with a mighty battle cry, the old man sighed and put his flower away in his tunic, his sword slashed out and he stepped forward to meet them. Blade slashed the air, blows rained among the horde, body parts fell to the rapid water below. But no blow fell on the first. The body's began to pile up, blood to flow from the scuppers of the bridge like rain water. Finally the horde could not reach him for the body's piled before him. He sheathed his sword and once more began to study his flower as the horde worked to pull the dead back to there side so they could clear the bridge. This time they came more slowly. The first put away his flower and once again drew his sword. Blade slashed the air, blows rained among the horde, body parts fell to the rapid water below. But no blow fell on the first. The body's began to pile up, blood to flowed again from the scuppers of the bridge like rain water. Again the horde could not reach him for the body's piled before him. He sheathed his sword and once more began to study his flower as the horde worked to pull the dead back to there side so they could clear the bridge. This time the horde stood back and jeered and a mighty orc stepped out onto the bridge. Once again the first put his flower away and drew his sword. Calmly he awaited the orc. Once again the blades flew. Once again the first pulled out his flower as the bridge was cleared. Hour after hour this went on with the horde advancing only to have to withdraw to clear the path. Hour after hour the first grew slower, till at last they began to get a few hits in. as the sun set, the first knelt, pulled out his flower, and once again began to study it. The next morning the second walked out on the bridge in resplendent armor, with many badges and metals, she had a banner of yellow with a blue rose upon it....
This continued till the 12th day. The 12th wore not resplendent armor, but old, stained, and dented armor. his banner was blue with a red rose. he placed the banner carefully across the bridge, then placed 11 roses upon it, stepped over the banner and drew out his red rose and began to study it. Out came the front of the horde, away went the rose, the 12th drew out 2 swords and waited. Blades flew, body parts fell, blood flowed and pile grew. Then he studded his flower as the pile was pulled apart. This time the chieftain came. Behind him came slaves with baskets. The chieftain stopped and waited as the slaves piled flowers behind him, all the way to the end of the bridge. The two squared off, then the blades flew. An hour went by, then an another and no blow landed. Then a shout among the villagers as the 12th drew first blood. Then the horde shouted as the chieftain scored a hit. After that the cheers came from both sides as they all knew that this was a battle like no other, the skill was obvious to see. An hour before sunset the two both went to there knees still fighting, then with a mighty blow they each stabbed the other. There they sat because none wanted to break the stillness. Then, at last, as the sun began to touch the ground, the ragged girl went out on the bridge. Carefully she rolled up the banner and set it aside. She withdrew the blades from the two combatants and dragged the 12th back. Then she went out and dragged the chieftain back as well, as shouts could be heard among the horde about should rule, she began to make cairns around them both. The next morning, the girl went out on the bridge, she removed her shirt and placed 12 roses, and one tulip upon the shirt, she picked up a broom and stepped over the shirt. She removed a cherry blossom from her skirt and calmly looked at it. The villagers did not know what she was doing, many were afraid that the horde would sweep her away and get them. None of the horde stepped onto the bridge. The new leader walked up to the edge of the bridge, knelt, and placed a small sword on the bridge, then he turned around and walked to his mount and rode away without looking back. The horde fallowed. Alone she stood trembling till the company of the militia arrived. Upon hearing of what transpired, the captain explained that the 12 were retired soldiers and that they had seen so much blood and death that now they just wanted peace and quite. They took the flowers, and placed the banners behind them because they knew they were going to their deaths. That the horde recognized the honor of the 12, and the girl. Then he asked why the girl stood alone, were was her family? and was told that all her family had died with her village. After hearing this the captain said that since she had no more family, he would make her part of his. Alone she stood till he came out and picked her up. The captain then sent a few troopers to the other side to bury the dead.
Years later the now thriving town of Tanstone had just finished a new, broader bridge a little upstream of the old bridge when they received a massage from the new queen. That on the old bridge, 2/3 of the way across-ed, they were to mount flower boxes on the outside of the rails, and that she would arrive to personally reopen the bridge. The townspeople did not know why the queen would come, or why the strange request, though they complied. As the young queen stepped out onto the bridge, all those who had been there knew, for they recognized in their new queen, the girl who stood upon the bridge with a broom to face the horde! The queen dedicated the bridge to the 12 warriors who gave their lives to defend it .