Chapter 2
“Wake up! Wake up!” Marcus cried out to the camp, it was always his job to wake the encampment up…
Aria reluctantly rolled out of her sleeping bag and got dressed tiredly. She rolled up her sleeping bag and dragged herself out of her tent. She slowly began to pack away her tent. At that moment, Rebecca walked over with her packed up sleeping bag and tent.
“You look tired… Didn’t you get much sleep Aria?” she asked.
“I got none.” Aria replied simply. She finally managed to pull her tent down and fold it up and Marcus came round to collect their tents and sleeping bags. Aria yawned widely.
“Why?” Rebecca enquired.
“I don’t know Rebecca, I just couldn’t sleep…” Aria replied, yawning again. Lowen rode over and dismounted.
“Miss Aria? Here are some maps. Lord Eliwood told me I should give them to you.” He said. Aria turned to him and yawned again. “Are you alright ma’am?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m just… tired.” She said, yawning again. “Thank you Lowen.” Aria took the maps and sat down to study them.
“You should get more sleep miss.” Lowen said.
“Now Lowen, I’m sure it isn’t her fault!” Eliwood said, sitting next to Aria. “I bet she heard me and Marcus last night… We were talking about my father you see.” Aria nodded to this. “Why are you worried? You don’t know my father…” Eliwood said worriedly.
“I met him once. He was kind to me. I had no food, no money, I was lost. He aided me and took me to the nearest town to help me… He was so kind, I can’t bear the thought of him harmed…” Aria explained, her tiredness seemed to have worn off. She stood up and started to walk forward. Then, suddenly, her tiredness returned and she fell to the ground, asleep.
“Aria!” Eliwood cried, running over.
“She is ok, my lord, she is only sleeping… I shall carry her on my horse until she awakens.” Marcus suggested. Eliwood nodded in agreement and helped Marcus lift the tactician onto his horse. Rebecca smiled. At least Aria was getting some sleep. They had just gotten around the Mountain range when Marcus had to step in front of Eliwood. “Stay back my lord! These men are out for blood…”
A stocky man walked up to them.
“Alms for a poor villager?” the man said.
“Poor villager? You look nothing of the sort!” Marcus said. Aria’s eyes flickered open…
“Huh?” she said.
“Humph! Someone wants the boy dead! Shame if you ask me, but heh! Gold’s gold.” The brigand said. “Come on out boys!” he shouted and then ran off. Many bandits appeared from their hiding places. Aria slipped off of Marcus’ horse and went over to Eliwood.
“You can’t direct us now! You’re too tired!” Marcus said.
“I must rise to my duty as tactician!” Aria said.
“Do you doubt her abilities Marcus?” Eliwood asked.
“No my lord, I am just worried for her safety.” Marcus stated.
“She shall stay near me… I shall protect her.” Eliwood said. Marcus nodded and they all got into battle positions. The battle began…
“Right… Lowen, see that village? Start going over to it… Dorcas and Bartre, each of you take a fortress and stay there. Marcus, you go to the vendor and get a few vulneries… I’d suggest about three. Rebecca, behind Bartre and Lord Eliwood behind Dorcas.” Aria ordered. Everyone moved to their assigned positions and waited. The enemy moved. A brigand attacked Dorcas, but seeing as Dorcas was on a fortress, he missed and Dorcas caused a severe wound to the brigand. “Lord Eliwood, move out from behind Dorcas so Rebecca can move in. Rebecca, attack that brigand!” Rebecca and Eliwood switched places and Rebecca attacked the Brigand, killing him. “Great work! Lowen! Get to that village and Marcus you can come back now!” she shouted to them. Lowen got a secret book from the village for warning them and Marcus came back and handed out some of the vulneries he had bought.
“Aria… There’s a brigand there, should I get him?” Eliwood asked.
“Um…” she judged how far away he was. “Yes, you can. Come on then! To battle!” Aria cried as she and Eliwood advanced to attack the brigand. Eliwood had to use his Rapier, seeing as he had no other weapon, but Aria knew she needed to get him another weapon soon or he’d break his rapier too soon. They soon killed the brigand. “Marcus! Head toward the armory! We need more weapons!” she shouted. Marcus nodded and started to move toward the armory. “Lowen! Move back over here and use that Secret book you’ve got!” Lowen did as ordered and his skill increased. “Rebecca, Dorcas and Bartre… Move forward, Rebecca, make sure you can’t get attacked.” They nodded and moved.
More and more enemies appeared…
“How many are there!?” Eliwood said. “This looks…” he said worriedly.
On the other side of the battle field, three men and a woman were exiting Santaruz when they saw the fight.
“These brigands are attacking Eliwood! Come Oswin! We must help!” one man with blue hair and heavy armour said. “Matthew! You and Serra go and hide over there!”
“What!? With HER!? You must be joking!” the boy apparently called Matthew said.
“Humph!” the girl called Serra said, turning from Matthew. They both ran off and the man and the knight called Oswin advanced onto the battlefield.
“Hey! Hector’s helping! And Oswin! Aria! See those two over there?” Eliwood said, pointing out Oswin and the man called Hector. Aria nodded. “Could you command them as well?” Aria nodded and Eliwood smiled. “The one with blue hair is Lord Hector and the other one’s called Oswin.” Eliwood explained.
“Ok… Lord Hector!” Aria shouted
“Yes? Hm… Is she leading the group Oswin?” Hector asked his companion.
“It seems to me that she is their tactician…” Oswin answered.
“Ok… Yes!?” Hector said.
“Could you attack that soldier?!” Aria shouted back. Hector did so and killed him. “Now! Oswin! Attack that archer there!” Aria ordered, Oswin followed instructions, causing a grave wound to his foe. Then their foe moved. The boss of the bandits started to move towards Eliwood. “He looks tough… What do you think Lord Eliwood?” Aria asked.
“Personally, I’d rather leave him to Marcus… But I think I can take him.” Eliwood said.
“Hm…” Aria had to think about that one. If she sent Eliwood in, she’d be taking a huge risk, since there were other enemies surrounding him, but Marcus would take care of him in a flash. Aria wasn’t a risk taker. “Marcus, close in on the boss and attack!” she shouted. Eliwood nodded, secretly happy it wasn’t him fighting that guy. Marcus moved in and attacked the boss quickly. The fight lasted a while. Marcus received some grave wounds but not enough to hold him down. He eventually finished off the leader of the assassins, but he was so hurt Aria ordered him to withdraw quickly to avoid any more injury. Then Aria sent Eliwood, Lowen, Dorcas and Bartre to kill the remaining enemies.
“Oswin! Finish of that archer and Lord Hector, attack that other soldier!” Aria commanded finally. Finally, all the enemies were dead. “Thank the heavens!” Aria cried.
“Is that all of them?” Eliwood said, panting.
“I think so” Hector said, walking over.
“Hector, where did you come from?” Eliwood asked his old friend.
“I saw you in a spot of bother and thought I’d lend a hand.” Hector replied.
“Yes but, why are you here?” Eliwood asked.
“You wound me!”
“Huh?”
“You were going to search for your father and you didn’t send word!” Hector said, hurt.
“Shouldn’t you be with your brother? He did just get crowned Marquess Ostia. Shouldn’t you be there to support him?” Eliwood asked.
“He may be new to the throne but my brother can handle things. Besides, he learned of my intentions and he let me go.” Hector explained. Eliwood nodded.
“Well, it would be unwise to refuse his kindness then!” Eliwood stated, smiling. “It does me good to see you old friend.” Hector nodded at this.
“You know what strikes me as odd?” Hector asked. Eliwood shook his head. “The fact that a royal guard was standing at the sidelines just watching the fight! He just stood there.” Eliwood looked shocked by this, and slightly hurt.
“The apparent leader of that group said something rather disturbing…” Eliwood began.
“My Lord? May I?” Marcus asked, proposing to explain to Lord Hector. Eliwood nodded.
“Ah! Marcus! Well met.” Hector said.
“Lord Hector. It’s been far too long. It is an honour to have your aid.” Marcus answered.
“Now now, no need for such formalities Marcus, you were going to say?” Hector asked.
“Ah yes. Well, the leader of that group of thugs stated that somebody needed Lord Eliwood dead.” He explained worriedly.
“That is disturbing…” Hector said, but he said not to let it worry them for now. He was more worried about getting to Santaruz…
“Something may have happened to Lord Helman! We must hurry!” Eliwood said. They set off at a quick pace towards Castle Santaruz. They soon reached a rive separating of the small part of land that the castle was on, and themselves. Eliwood was staring at the castle. “We have to speak to Lord Helman…” he said.
“That’s not going to happen laddie!” a gruff voice shouted from across the river. Eliwood looked startled.
“What?”
“You’ll have to get through all my lackeys if you want to see the Marquess!” the man bellowed.
“Watch us!” Hector cried.
“Oho! The cub thinks he’s a wolf! Come on then! See if you can best me!” he bellowed, walking off and standing at the Castle gate. Everyone got into positions for battle.
_________________
No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars
Hear the whispers in the dark
No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I'm never far
Hear the whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark
I'm Falling in the black,
slipping thru the cracks,
fallingto the depths,
can i eva go back
check this link for a puzzle i made:
http://four.flash-gear.com/npuz/puz.php?c=v&id=2831278&k=33414560