Leafblade & Freelight: The Barracks

[Deiter Leafblade]

"You'll find out." His breathing was rough as they made their way through the forest. He cursed himself that he couldn't be quieter, but the gashes in his forearm burned with pain.

To be honest with himself, he wasn't sure what was on the other side of the forest. He wasn't well acquainted with the area and he had originally planned to camp out in the woods. The scare of a monster would keep guards away, but now that the stories proved to be true... Altair shook his head at his stupidity.

Much to his relief they had only entered a small part of the woody area. He didn't want to think about crossing the central forest. Moonlight greeted them as the entrance appeared just ahead.

Savage roars filled the forest as the other beasts learned of the tiger's death. Swiftly pulling a knife from his belt, he cut the rope around her wrists and gripped her arm. "Run as hard as you can." With that said he pulled her along with him and ran. The welcoming scenery on the other side of the forest was all Altair could see. He refused to become another victim to this cursed forest.

Paws crunching twigs and leaves could be heard behind them. It sounded as if an army of beasts were after the two. Ignoring his advice, Altair looked behind him and saw 5 large cats after them. A mix of panthers, tigers, and lions quickly caught up. Gripping Robyn's shirt, he leapt forward out of the forest as a hill on the other side came into view. The pair roughly rolled down the hill together as he continued to hold onto her shirt with his good hand.

The thief let go of her once they reached the bottom of the grassy dune. He lay there breathing heavily and clutching his arm. Despite all of it he couldn't help but grin. He knew Berad would have been proud.

[mistral4543]

Panting, she eased her upper torso up, stretching her shoulders and gently pounding her nape. By a stroke of good luck, she was quite unharmed other than for a few scratches.

Glancing at her kidnapper, she discovered that he was certainly in a worse shape than herself. Serves him right! She scrambled to her feet. Now's your best chance to go, Robyn! Yes, it would perfect to take off now, when he was at his vulnerable state. All that he had suffered, was due to his stupidity and his ill intentions towards her.

And yet, her feet stubbornly rooted themselves to the ground as she eyed his wounds. You can't overlook the fact that he saved you. She clenched her fists, looking down at her toes. You wouldn't have needed saving if he hadn't threatened your life, tossed you over like a meatloaf and dragged you here. The seconds seemed like hours as she contemplated her courses of action.

At length, she stepped forward. You won't owe him anything, after this. Closing her eyes, she murmured the incantations of a cure wounds spell and rested her hand on his arm.

[mistral4543]

Time and again, she had believed. Trusted those false humans that they would keep to their side of the bargain. Relented when she should not have, not when her own experiences had taught her to be ruthless as a matter of survival.

This was her weakness. The youthful soldier had discovered it, she was sure, and he had spread the word that she was a pushover. That was why every now and then, at this moment it was another lad and Gerald's daughter, people continued to infiltrate the forest at will and disturbed the peace.

They had to be taught a lesson. Yes, it could not go on indefinitely like this, and she must rectify the errors of her ways. That was why she had sent her five favourite felines to avenge their brother's death. Silly the humans were; they did not realise that animals had as much feelings as you and I, and their codes of conduct stricter than ours. They would have no mercy where she did; she could rely on them to deliver swift justice where she wavered.

"Is it done?" A brooding rage kept her voice trembling and low, as she eyed her messenger intently. Then she threw back her head and roared her wrath as she heard the response.

Escaped! They had managed to avert their demise by seconds, simply by rolling out of the confines of the forest. Her shoulders shook and she gripped her staff for support as she paced around the room.

So... they want to test my patience, again. The air was stifling with the waves of fury she radiated. So... Gerald does not heed my act of mercy. It would be so easy now, to release her friends upon Alesbridge, what with his precious gem of a daughter out of reach and command. It would be a lesson not only to Alesbridge, but to the whole world, not to take the forest for granted.

It was justified.

Exhaling slowly, she stepped out of the forest and raised her scaly hands, calling out in a tongue that only her allies could comprehend:

"Awaken, my friends!" It had been a long time that she made an impassioned speech, and that novelty alone drew her audience rapidly. "Attack Alesbridge right now!" She could feel their temperatures rising; she also knew that the moment they had been waiting for had come. "Kill all at sight!" A thunderous symphony of animal cries arose.

"Above all..." Her eyes were alight with venom. "Have no mercy."

Her friends needed no repeat of her invitation. Watching them take off, she turned to her trusted companion.

"Come now, Rake. We have some unfinished business to settle, too." Together, they made their way out of their sanctuary and towards the hilly area just outside the reach of the forest.

[ 07-29-2006, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: mistral4543 ]

[Deiter Leafblade]

Altair watched her in surprised as she cured his wounded arm. He half expected her to run away and leave him there bleeding. She does have every right to do so. Eyeing his arm warily, as if not believing she really did cure it, he sat up to look at her.

The moonlight softly highlighted her blond hair, and he wondered what she would have been like if they met under different circumstances. Standing up, he brushed the dirt off himself and left to look for firewood. He trusted her not to run away, especially since the forest extended a long way across the path back to Alesbridge.

Several minutes later he returned with an arm full of wood and went about making a small fire. Sitting close to the warmth of the flames, he motioned for her to join him. Altair didn't enjoy not knowing what it was he would do next. Being a thief always had its unexpected moments, but now the pair was completely cut off from Alesbridge, unless they dared to venture back into the forest.

Pulling out a small pouch, he handed her some dry meat wordlessly and then helped himself to some. The silence was heavy between the two, and he couldn't deny she had captivated his interests. Not only was she a usual noblewoman, she had opted to heal his injuries after what he had done. He vaguely wondered if he had met her before when they were children, back when nobility across the land would meet his father for treaties and trade goods. Leaving the question unvoiced, he tossed the remains of his meal into the fire and laid back in the grass, his gaze taking in the scattered stars.

[mistral4543]

She chewed the meat gingerly, more to satisfy her hunger pangs than to really savour its taste. The whole setting tonight seemed eerie, and even the flames of the little fire could not warm the blood that flowed beneath her chilly skin. Facing a taciturn and enigmatic kidnapper she had just healed did not help to resolve the complexity of the situation and in desperation, she turned to memories for comfort...

It was one of those delightful parties she had been taken to, month after month after month. Papa had so many friends, and all of them lived either in grand mansions or beautifully furnished palaces. So often he had pinched her cheek and winked at her, saying "You'll always live in one of these, Robyn. Either with Papa or your husband." And she had blushed and pouted to hide her embarassment. "I'm not getting married, Papa, so you can just stop that!" What she loved best were his bear hugs afterwards, and how he'd swing her into the air amid Mama's protests...

This particular day was no different. Like the brash scion she was, she had dashed off the moment the adults began talking - and what strange words and phrases they used, none of them interesting in the least! - and ignored the shocked gasps and amused giggles around her. For she had sported a movement in that direction; the movement of one who was not an adult, and who would therefore provide greater amusement than any of them.

She was not disappointed in her expectations. The boy, who appeared sullen and ill at ease initially, had tried to shoo her away. But she was a fighter, and she clung to him, throwing a barrage of inquisitive questions and accusing tears, all of which wore him down eventually. Sitting obediently on the ground, she listened to his tales with rapture. What sparkling blue eyes he had! They were almost as mesmerising as the stories, and she clapped her hands joyously each time he completed one. She liked everything about him, down to his black hair which was so glossy that it seemed wasted on a boy.

"Another story, Altair! Another story!" And long after, this name would stick in her memory. "How funny and brave your stories are! I want another one!" She tugged at his velvet shirt which seemed to sit uncomfortably upon him. "Would you be a story teller if you weren't in this family, Altair? You're really good!"

She would not remember his response in the years to come. Perhaps the memory of an eight-year-old could not be depended upon to retain much of what it flittingly stored there. She only remembered those amazing blue eyes, black hair and the somewhat pale skin of his... and of course, their little secret...

Subconsciously, she had reached into her unbuttoned collar and drawn out a silver chain bearing a curious-looking pendant. The chain itself was still shining, as she had polished it diligently every month since the day it was bestowed upon her. The pendant comprised a thin band of circle in the backdrop, and upon it lay the crescent moon, the fiery sun and a single perfect star. That was what Altair had given her on the first day of their acquaintance. Had he kept what she had given him? Did he ever think of her? Was he even alive in the first place?

Fingering it, Robyn's eyes grew wistful as she roamed the following years in search of their subsequent playtimes. There had been a number at one point, all of them enjoyable, until the visits stopped. On hindsight, she wondered if it had been because the Mehlingard wealth had proven to be too little for the Swizec family. For her heart had quite broken when she heard that Altair was to be married to Vivian Jasper upon his coming of age...

What did it all matter? Altair had gone missing about eight years ago, and in her moments of bitterness, she consoled herself that this was the price his father had to pay for all his political manoeuvres. She, herself, was just another pawn, of course. Or had almost been. Her father had tried hard to keep her to his side as much as possible - and this reminder drove a wedge into her heart now - but her mother was obsessed with keeping the family honour and wealth. One day, she might end up despising herself the way she sneered at Lord Swizec...

Why are you even thinking of this, at a time like this? Shaking herself back into reality, she flushed as she caught her kidnapper's expression and hurriedly tucked the necklace back into safety. She had only regained her composure when she nearly started at a realisation.

This kidnapper had blue eyes and black hair too.

[ 07-29-2006, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: mistral4543 ]

[Deiter Leafblade]

That necklace... Altair was taken back when he saw it. How does she have that? Could it really be her? He watched her intently for several minutes. The thief began studying her face in the firelight and he actually looked at her this time. Before it had only been simply to use for his capture of her. Blueprints for a plan he wanted to execute. Now though, that he took in her green eyes and blond hair, and the surprised look on her face, he wondered if this really was the Robyn from his past.

How could it not be? How many noblewomen have her physical traits along with your necklace? Altair had never expected to see her again. He assumed she would already be married to some rich Lord and have forgotten him completely. It was apparent that wasn't the case when he noticed how polished the necklace was.

Reaching inside his shirt, he pulled out a similar pendant. The chain was gold and looped through an unraveled scroll. Written upon the small scroll was a story the pair had come up with together. At the very bottom was their names signing their claim to the story. He held it out for her to see, and quietly watched her, feeling at a loss for words.

[mistral4543]

As she dared another glance at the kidnapper, she spotted his hand movement and felt her heartbeat quickening as he produced the very token she had just moments ago been pondering about.

Blue eyes... black hair... and the scroll. She grabbed at it, her eyes transfixed upon the words which unlocked the gate of further memories. It couldn't be... here was her name, and Altair's! It was so unbelievable, but there it was.

Altair was back.

The Altair she had adored all these years.

He looked worn, furtive, uncertain.

And he had just kidnapped her.

Staring at him at last, she remained open-mouthed for a while before sanity demanded that she do something, instead of gaping at him.

Giving in to her impulse, she burst out, half-laughing, half-crying, "Where the devil have you been?" Beating her clenched fists against his chest, she demanded. "And is this how you treat an old friend? By kidnapping her?!"

Caught up in the confusion of her emotions, she could only continue to rain blows upon him, releasing her pent-up feelings.

[Deiter Leafblade]

He endured her blows until she started to wear herself out. Reaching forward, he wrapped his arms around her and held her to him. Altair tried to grasp at something to say for the situation, but everything slipped through his fingers but for two words. "I'm sorry." He whispered to her as he rested his head against her shoulder. Thoughts whirled through his mind on the murders and crimes he had committed... all in the name of the freedom he wanted so badly. Now that he had that freedom, he wasn't sure if it had all been worth it.

Never had he thought of such a thing before, but now that Robyn was here with him, here inside his embrace once again, he suddenly started to feel guilty. He couldn't lie to himself and say being a thief wasn't exciting and the embodiment of what he had wanted. A thief is his own master, he answers to no one and does as he pleases.

Had he failed her all these years? Would it have been better if he took her with him when he ran away? Altair knew it wouldn't have. He didn't want her to know what it felt like to never know when your next meal would come, or not have anywhere to sleep but in a dirty alley, or constantly be alert for death. It was better that you stayed where you were. He decided silently.

The irony of the situation struck Altair as the thought entered his mind. He had kidnapped her! Took her away from her home, tied and gagged her, and brought her through that cursed forest. He failed her so horribly that Altair wouldn't be surprised at all if she wanted nothing more to do with him. Yet, if he hadn't of ran away, he would have already been married to someone from the Jasper family. His father was a forceful man, and Altair had no say in the situation. If he was to marry, it would be someone he loved, not something his family decided for him.

He wondered if lady luck was laughing at him. Within his arms was the only girl he ever had feelings for.

[ 07-30-2006, 12:23 AM: Message edited by: Deiter Leafblade ]

[mistral4543]

From the tightness of his embrace, she drew consolation that the years of longing and regret she had spent had not been totally worthless. From those two words, she sensed that he had a lifetime's worth of experiences compacted into those years and there was no way he could even begin to describe them; certainly not at a time like this. From the sound of his breathing and his pulpitating heartbeat, she guessed at his own uncertainty and perhaps, reciprocating joy.

For a moment, she was contented to be enveloped in his arms, so welcome they were after all she had undergone in the last few days. It's as if he has never gone... No, that was too blatant a lie. The world had changed, and the people living in it, even if they did not intend to, would have evolved to meet that change. The thought brought her to her senses and reluctantly, she lifted her head and gazed into his eyes.

"We've so much to catch up on, Altair. I hardly know where we should begin." Her green eyes glittered, reflecting the prancing flames of the campfire.

Did she dare to ask? Did she want to know the answer?

"I... I just want to know what you intend to do with me now." Slowly disengaging her arms, she looked at him in partial wariness, while delirium continued to hover at the back of her mind.

[ 07-30-2006, 01:28 AM: Message edited by: mistral4543 ]

[Deiter Leafblade]

Regret reflected from his eyes as he watched her. "What I intend to do is bring you back to Alesbridge." He never should have accepted the job to rob Lord Gerald's manor. If this young woman had been anyone but Robyn you know you wouldn't be saying this right now. Altair couldn't hide from his conscience.

"It seems I placed you in even more danger I'm afraid. Unless we plan to walk around the forest which could take over a day, our only other option is to go back the way we came." He knew it was foolish to enter the forest again, and had no plans in doing so. He refused to put Robyn into further danger.

A thought suddenly came to him as he watched the light of the fire caress her features. "Why don't you come with me? You know as well as I do what the pains of nobility can be." Even as the words left his mouth he knew they would be turned down. How could he ask her to leave with him? He knew her father was injured, and Alesbridge needed her. It would be selfish to expect her to leave all of that to come with him. His... profession was not a safe course of action, and he realized he didn't want Robyn to be caught up in the evils of the world.

"Forgive me, I shouldn't have asked that." Altair wasn't sure what to do. Robyn's world of nobility was no longer something he was a part of. He doubted Lord Gerald would ever accept him into his manor, especially if he found out about the attempted robbery and abduction of his daughter. Frowning, his gaze shifted to the ground.