Dear reader,
I would like to share a story with you, one of adventure, honour and love; one that took place inside my head, it's been in there for years and I am finally letting it out.
You must know that my imagination is wild, but not detail oriented, thus I shall often leave it up to you to fill in the details.
For now this adventure begins in a deciduous forest, sometime during spring, in the middle of the afternoon. A luxurious carriage drawn by four horses and accompanied by a dozen knights in light armour travelled at decent speed through the road.
As they saw the carriage pass by, three men sitting a few meters away from the side of the road, commented on it:
-Man, I wonder who is in that carriage, why is it so heavenly guarded?
-Let's mind our own business, Connor, as we said, we do not want to attract attention.
-They clearly didn't see us. I'm just curious, it looked fancy.
-So what?
-What do you mean "so what"? Did it not seem completely out of place to you? We just left the poor town of ____, we saw people struggling to make ends meet, why were these other people in such a town?
-Ah, so you are still thinking of Alicia.
-No, I am not thinking of Alicia, Stephan! I am thinking about the carriage that we just saw!
Stephan let out a chuckle at Connor's indignant expression.
-It's alright Connor, you are still young, you-
-What does my age have to do with the carriage?
-No, not with the carriage, I am talking about you and Alicia, you clearly are in-
-But I am talking about the carriage!!
Before Connor could reply, the third man who up to this point was just amused by the bickering and happy they were at it again after some rest, decided to intervene to keep the peace in his small party.
-Maybe the carriage was just passing through __town name__. Maybe they came from further North.
-Huh, from the border? From the war camp? Why would such a carriage be at the warfront?
Connor asked. Stephan responded slowly, with a completely different tone:
-To escort a loved one heading to war, not knowing if they will see them again. I wouldn't be surprised if the one in the carriage was noble lady, or maybe a whole family. They are probably crying right now. That's what our families did with us, remember?
Those few word suddenly changed the atmosphere drastically, and all three fell silent, as they reminisced about the hard goodbyes all three had said not too long ago.
After a brief moment Connor responded:
-Man, I feel like it was ages ago.
Silence.
-Yeah, me too.
Silence.
-Ach, let's not dwell on that and focus on our mission, the sooner we are done, the sooner we can go back to them.
As the eldest in the group, Stephan was trying to lift their spirits again. They still had a very long journey ahead.
-On that note, are you two feeling better? Can we get going again?
-Are we feeling better? We didn't have to stop on our account, Nick, we are doing just fine.
-Don't lie to me Connor, you two were looking pale, you'd grown silent and were walking slower by the minute. You don't need to hide it, you both lost a lot of stamina during your recovery. It's only natural after the injuries you sustained. But don't worry, you'll recover it in no time now that we are on the move again. We have a lot of walking to do.
-So you saying you were hungry again was just an excuse for us to stop so Connor and I could rest?
Stephan asked humbly. Nick responded with a smile:
-Oh no, I was actually hungry.
-But we didn't really need to stop, did we? you could have just munched on your jerky.
Stephan said while gently shaking his head. Connor responded:
-Man, I wonder what my father would say if he knew you are the one taking care of us, Nick.
-I don't really know your Father;-Nick answered- but mine probably would have said that we are both doing our jobs. Knights fight to protect the royalty and nobility, while they care for the people though their rule. In a sense, we are all just taking care of one another.
-Your Father would be proud Nick.
Stephan said with a gentle smile on his face.
-Thank you.
Nick responded while returning the smile, before adding:
-So, shall we?
All three of them picked up their belongings and started walking South along the road.
-------
Not long after that, Connor and Stephan were bickering again as they walked.
Nick was just listening with amusement. It was a good sign: they had energy and he was happy they had gotten used to his presence to the point they could relax and bicker.
-Why do you need to keep bringing up Alicia?
-Why won't you accept you are thinking about her?
-I was not thinking about her, I saw a rabbit and thought it could be a good meal combined with the bulbs we passed by earlier.
-Yeah, just like the one she used to prepare for us, right? Wasn't she the one who taught you to identify those bulbs?
Not wanting to admit the truth, Connor turned to Nick:
- why didn't you try and shoot the rabbit?
-Because we have plenty of food for now.
-Yeah, but it could have tasted so good. We could just go back to get the bulbs, they aren't too far away.
-Why don't we leave those there for someone who actually needs them?
Nick responded.
-We are too far away from town now. Nobody is going to come so deep in the forest to get bulbs.
-You'd be surprised Connor, hunger is a pretty strong motivator.
Stephan answered. Connor stayed silent for a few seconds, then he said:
-Do you think they will be alright now that it's Spring?
-You mean Alicia?
Said Stephan mischievouy.
- I mean the whole people of _town name__! I still can't get over their sorry state.
-You mean how Alicia was starving when we met them?
-No! I'm not just talking about Alicia! You saw them too, you were fuming of anger when you saw the children, we could see their ribs, they were so thin! And nobody was doing anything for them! If River hadn't tried to pickpocket Nick, they would have died!
Connor exclaimed.
-Oh so you were thinking about Alicia.
-For heavens sake!! Why can't you just stop bringing it back to Alicia! I am talking about hunger and injustice here!
-Why won't you admit that your concern goes beyond just justice? You fell in love with her Connor! You can't stop thinking about her. Can you?
-Aahh! Fine!! Yes, yes I'm in love with her, yes I can't stop thinking about her, is that such a bad thing?!
Connor exploted.
-No, no at all. We are happy for you! It's a good thing.
Nick responded with a smile.
-And your concern for her well-being is proof of the nobility of your feelings. You actually care for her, that's honourable.
Said Stephan.
-Yeah, except there's no future there.
-Not necessarily.
-Nick, we are from enemy kingdoms, we are spies, fugitives! How could there be anything between us?
-Well, if we do our jobs properly, hopefully we can put an end to this dumb war and you can come back for her.
-If she is still alive by then.
Said Connor dejectedly.
-We did all we could for them Connor, we left them with money, we helped them get their farm going. It's Spring time. If we can find a way to end the war before Winter comes again, there's a high chance they will make it.
Connor sighed at Nick's words. Then asked:
-Do you really think we can actually end the war? What if we can't and then...
-So you don't think we can put an end to this? Is that how little faith you have in me?
Nick said pretending to be offended to shut down his negativity.
-No I do, I do, it's just... I...
Connor sighed again, and before he could respond Stephan interjected:
-It's alright Connor, you are in love, she's in your head and you are worried about her, use that as fuel! Let that fire burn in you and use that as motivation. Now you're not just striving here to end the war for the sake of our people, but for her sake as well.
Connor took a deep breath, the asked:
-Do we know how we are going to end the war?
-We know we are getting away from __town name__ and headed to __ city name_. Maybe there we can buy a horse and then start investigating.
Nick responded.
-We are walking all the way to __city name__!!!
-Why are you surprised, we discussed this al-
-Shush!
Nick, shut Connor's chastisement while placing a hand of each of them. As they obeyed he said:
-Listen!
They did.
-There's fighting!
Stephan said surprised.
-This way.
Nick walked off the road and up a side slope while crouching. Connor and Stephan followed obediently.
-This place is perfect for an ambush.
Whispered Stephan, pointing out the steep slopes at the sides of the road.
-So it's a robbery?
Connor responded.
Nick did not answer, but kept guiding them stealthyly on between the trees oh higher ground toward the sound of the battle.
When it came into view Connor asked:
- Are we going to get involved?
-Not unless we really need to. I don't want to draw attention to us.
Nick responded.
- They are faring well. It's armoured Knights against commoners.
Connor reassured after observing for a moment.
A dozen or so armed Knights in light armour were fighting off multiple people wilding machetes, pitchforks, shovels, and other farming utensils.
-Yeah but the commoners have advantage in numbers.
Observed Stephan.
-And they have a good archer.
Nick said while using the tip of his own bow to point at the young man that had just shot an arrow which embedded itself in the lower thigh of one of the Knights, causing him to fall. Luckily another Knight came to his aid and slashed at the commoner that was about to impale him with a pitchfork.
Breathing heavily and growning, the wounded Knight broke the arrow in two with his hands. He discharged the half he'd broken off, and got up while leaving the incrusted tip in his thigh, just in time to fend off a man that attacked him with a machete.
-They are fighting mightily, but look:
Stephan said and used his hand to point to the carriage: Some men were making their way to it, while their comrades kept the knights busy.
-Are we going to intervene?
Asked Connor gripping the hilt of his sword ready to unsheath it.
-No.
Responded Nick dryly.
-Then why do you have an arrow ready in your bow?
While they were following the developing battle, Nick had gotten his bow ready and was following the movements of the fighters down below with the tip of the arrow he had ready.
-Just in case we do need to.
-What does it depend on?
Stephan asked.
-Who is in the carriage and if they will need our help.
Nick responded while tensing his bow's string as the men reached the carriage, and broke the door, but then he relaxed it when a Knight came to fight them off.
-Ugch...
Connor made a painful noise as he saw that Knight get impaled in the back against the carriage with a pitchfork.
-Thats a fatal wound isn't it?
Connor asked while looking at Nick, who took a deep breath and tensed his bow in response.
The commoners reached into the carriage.
-Nick?
Stephan asked expecting an order.
-Dammit!
Nick whispered as he saw the men forcefully pull a young Lady out of the carriage. He exhaled and released the arrow in his hand.