#1

She saw a huge blinding flash of light and her vision blurred. She couldn’t see anything and her truck swerved off of the road. She tried to stop her vehicle but could not control it. Finally it stopped… it crashed into a tree. The air bag deployed and she suddenly pressed against the seat. Her nose was bleeding and she ached all over. Her vision was still blurry by the time she managed to get out of the truck. She sat down on the grass near by to wait for her vision to return. When it did she saw that the tree she had hit was leaning violently over the roof of the truck. It looked ready to collapse on top of it. Then she noticed that the engine was smoking, but only mildly.
She pulled out her cell phone but the battery was totally dead. She got up slowly. Some bruises were starting to show. She decided to walk to the road to see if she could flag anyone down.
She had walked for only minute but the trees were starting to get denser. There was no way her truck could have dodged so many trees. But she was positive this was the way she came. She had always had a good sense of direction.
She turned around and started to make her way back to her truck when she heard loud screams and yelling. It was barely audible, and had to be a long ways off, but it still sent a shiver down her spine. She quickened her pace.
When she got to her truck the yelling sounded like it was either dying down or moving farther away. She still felt uncomfortable about it and unloaded her shot gun and some ammo. She sat down and leaned against the truck, her head pointed towards the sky.
It was so clear. No clouds anywhere. And the air was so clean and crisp. She loved the country. But the sky was getting darker. She needed to set up a camp. She couldn’t sleep in the truck because the tree looked ready to collapse on it and she didn’t want to risk being in it when it happened.
She slung the gun over her shoulder and unloaded her sleeping bag, fire kit, and some of the food she brought with. All she needed now was a fire. Still having her gun with her she headed out in a different direction than when she searched for the road to gather wood.
After a while of walking she found a huge area of dead grass, plants, and trees. It looked like nothing here had had rain or any other water for months, and there were a few darker spots that smelt a lot like sulfur and smoke. It was very weird but it had a lot of dry dead wood. She grabbed as much as se could carry, which for a girl her size, was a lot. She carried it back. When she went for a second trip she had to carry less because her arms and legs were still pained from the crash.
When she got back and had everything set up for the night she dug into her food bins and picked out a can of SpaghettiO’s. She didn’t have a can opener so she dug around for her pocket knife. When she found that she took out the mini saw and jabbed it into the top of the can and slowly, but effectively, opened it. She didn’t want to have to dig in all the bags and boxes she had to find a pot to cook in, so she ate it cold.

*****

In the morning all of the wood was gone so she picked up her shotgun and headed towards the dry area she had gone to yesterday. It took her a little longer to find it because she was still tired and kept tripping.
When she got there, and her arms were about half full, she heard voices. They were in the woods on the side of the dry patch closest to her. They were headed towards her and were very close when she was about to call out to them when she remembered the yells and screams. She turned to run and was about halfway turned around when two men came into the clearing and stopped in there tracks.
She quickly turned back around, turned off the safety, and caulked her gun. She raised the gun to them and then froze. Eyes wide, jaw dropped.
They looked like they just came from the renascence festival. They had armored breastplates and chain mail on. It was so weird but what stopped her was that it looked like actual armor.
She looked at their faces next they couldn’t be that much older than she was but they looked different from the guys she new in a way. They also looked very stunned. They were just staring at her. Then one of them drew a sword. He kicked the other one and he did the same. “Who are you?” the first one asked in a quiet but stern voice. He sounded almost scared.
By this time she was about to faint. What the @%*&! is going on? She just stood there, unable to speak or move. ”Who are you?” he said again. She was about to answer when someone came from behind and clubbed her in the back of the head. She fell to the ground and the gun fired. Someone’s yell pierced the air, but she couldn’t hear it… she was unconscious.

*****

When she woke up she found herself tied to a post in the middle of a large canvass tent. She couldn’t see a flap to get out the way she was facing so she guessed she was facing the back.
Her arms and legs were heavily bruised and she had a huge headache. The back of her head was throbbing and she had no idea where she was or how she got there.
She waited there for a while when she heard footsteps behind her. The person came around and set something down next to her. She looked up at him and he was clearly surprised to see her awake. He quickly untied one of her hands. She was surprised by what he was wearing, then it all came back to her.
He was about to turn and leave when she asked “where am I?” He turned and faced her again. His mouth opened in mild shock. He turned again and left quickly.
She was so hungry. Then she spotted the tray he had set down next to her. On it was some bread and cheese. And next to that were a few leaves. She started to eat it all quickly, but then remembered to eat slowly so that the food would be more filling. When she got to the leaves she picked one up and smelt it. Mint! She chewed it and then the rest one by one, and her headache slowly subsided.
She went into a shallow sleep.

*****

“Jensen I’m telling you the girl can speak our tongue.”
“Are you positive? What did she say?”
“She asked where she was and-“
“Did you tell her?”
“No she asked but I was so shocked I left right away and came to tell you! She spoke it perfectly with no hint of an accent.”
“Tell me this then Cia, if she can speak our tongue then why didn’t she answer Cessary in the woods? You were there so you tell me.”
“I have no idea Jensen. I’m just telling you what I heard just now”
“I'll see if I can talk to her today, ok Cia?”
“Yes Sir.”
Cia turned to go.
“Oh and Cia?”
“Yes?”
“How is Edward?”
“What ever that girl had in her hands was like nothing I have ever seen before. You saw the wound.”
“Yes I did”
Jensen grimaced.
“Well considering that the healer wanted to amputate his leg and Edward wouldn’t let him; his leg is in very good condition. The healer says he will always have a limp at best.”
“And at worst?”
“He won’t be able to use it.”
Jensen was silent for a few moments.
“Jensen… are you ok?”
“Yes you may leave now… oh and send for another blanket for me, a warm one. It will be cold tonight.”
“Yes captain”
And Cia turned and left.
I need to find out what she knows. She must be of high rank or royal decent. Maybe she may help us…
“-Captain, the blanket you asked for.”
“Oh, thank you, Tirrin, you may go.”
“Yes sir”
It was almost dark outside when Jensen took the blanket and headed over to the mess tent. He took a wooden mug of warm milk and honey and headed over to where the girl was being held. He went in and when he got to the center post his breath caught. She’s beautiful. Her skin tones are that of the south but her light brown hair is of the north. How is that possible? They have been warring for ages.
Jensen just stood staring at her for a minute, and then he noticed her shiver. He set the mug down and laid the blanket on top of her as gently as he possibly could. He picked up the mug and turned to leave wanting to let her sleep.
Just as he was about to leave he heard a soft whisper. ”thank you.” He walked back over to her. She was looking up at him. His breath caught again.
Her eyes are golden. How can this be?! Jensen thought.

This is so weird and the looks these surprised men are giving me is getting old and freaking me out.
Jensen tried to regain composure but when he spoke his facial expression was still that of shock.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Holly. Who are you?”
She seems so calm. But I see fear in her eyes. She has such a short name, and holly… as in the plant?
“I am Jensen Breakens Cerrillious, captain of this army.”
I must be dreaming. An ARMY!!! Where am I!!!
Holly smiled trying to show confidence she didn’t feel.
“May I ask where I am?”
Her smile… her… Wait, what did she say?
“I’m sorry but to tell you the truth I don’t even know our exact location, and even if I did know I wouldn’t be able to tell you for all I know you may be a spy.”
I don’t even believe she’s a spy now. How could she be?
“A spy?”
What! Where am I how did I get here!!! This has to be a joke!!! Am I getting Punk’ed?!?!?!?!

Time to change the subject.
“The mechanism you where holding in the spark field, what was that?”
“What! Were you the one that clubbed me in the back of the head?!”
Wow she’s angry, so much for acting calm, and so much for “might help us.”
“No that was not me; the one who did though, came back with a wounded leg because of whatever that was. This is a time of war. It was something he had to do. If you were the enemy it would have been very bad if you had gotten away.”
“…well… so you… you don’t think I’m the enemy?”
Her voice is so small, eyes so wide…
“No, I do not think you an enemy.”
This isn’t a dream. It’s too real, but it’s not normal, where am I? And what enemy? But then again this as to be a dream, it can’t possibly be reality… can it? I must be going crazy!
Holly just sat there, not knowing what to say.
Why am I freaking out? Even if this is real its not that bad… i'm only being held hostage in a medieval tent. Oh and there is a war going on and a few people think I’m a spy! Yeah it’s not that bad! Well at least I’m not going to have to go see Dave today… wow… one upside to this place. I must be going crazy.
When holly didn’t say anything, Jensen turned and left. He couldn’t stop thinking of her while he headed for is tent.
The med. tent was next to the one Holly was being held in. in it Edward was awake. He had heard everything. What was going on with Jensen? When seeing a prisoner even a female he was always stern! Why did he talk like a weakling?
He was so confused. He would try to talk to the captain tomorrow. What was he thinking?!

#2

In the morning Jensen was still thinking of Holly as he entered the med tent. He saw Edward lying on is bed with his right calf wrapped up. Next to him were bowls of poppy, milfoil, and red clover.
“How is your foot?”
“It feels like a mosquito bite” Edward said with a wry smile.
“Oh really?” Jensen said as he tapped the dressing on his friend’s leg. Edward cringed, then smiled lightly.
“Hmm, that must have been some bug!”
“Yes. It was a bug that I have never seen before, nor wish to ever see again.” Edward said getting more serious.
There was an awkward silence for a little while then Edward said, “What was wrong with you? I heard you speaking to the girl yesterday. What happened?”
“Nothing, I talked with her and determined that she was no threat.”
What am I doing? He heard! He wouldn’t understand unless he actually saw what happened and how she looked! What am I going to do!
“Oh I’m so sorry Edward. I think Cessary is calling me.”
Jensen left quickly with Edward calling behind him; he’d have to deal with it later. Right now he needed to find Cia.
When he did find Cia he was on the practice field. He called him over. “Yes captain?”
“Where were you when you saw Holly?”
“Holly?”
“The girl.”
“Oh, towards the north end of the spark field.”
“Thank you. You may carry on.”
“Yes sir”
Jensen went strait to his tent and grabbed his sword. He sheathed it and headed southeast towards the spark field.

*****

When Holly woke up she heard voices in the tent next to her. They sounded like Jensen and another man. She heard footsteps leaving then the other voice yelling. “Jensen! C’mon! Get back here! What is going on with you?!”
What’s happening?
Holly shifted and something in her pocket poked her. “Ow” she reached down with her free hand and pulled out her pocket knife. Wow! Without thinking she started cutting the ropes. She didn’t want to attract attention so she pulled up the canvass at the back of the tent. She almost stood when she saw Jensen leaving towards the trees almost directly across from her tent. There was no one else around.
Holly got up and followed him. Better in the trees than in the camp. She followed him for a little while, tripping occasionally. He didn’t look back at all though he did stop and look up once.
After a while the trees thinned and Holly went farther behind. All of a sudden Jensen sped up and Holly lost him. She started running and burst into a clearing. She crouched down and got behind a tree. It’s the dry spot where I saw the men and got knocked out. Wait my shot gun! That must be why he’s here! Dang it!
She needed to get her gun back. Holly picked up a large stick and went around to Jensen’s back. He was looking around. All of a sudden he stopped and looked strait down. He started to bend over when Holly rushed him and gave him a heavy blow to the back of his head. What goes around comes around.

*****

Jensen awoke leaned against a tree. He had a huge headache and had no idea where he was. What happened? The last thing he remembered was looking for the weapon Cia said Holly held… someone or something must have hit him. But if something hit him why was he over here, wherever here was, and if someone hit him why didn’t they take him somewhere else?
He got up and checked himself over. He still had his sword, witch was good, but confused him even more. He had no idea and no sense of direction so he just started walking.
After he had been walking for about an hour he stopped to take a break. He sat next to a tree and just closed is eyes. He had such a headache! And it wasn’t just from being hit in the head, it was also from thinking too hard.
Why didn’t they take my sword? How did they know where I was going? Where am I going? I am so very confused! I hope one of the men notice I’m missing soon and-
Jensen didn’t finish his thoughts. He heard footsteps. They could be my men! “Hello?” he said as getting up from his resting place.
The footsteps started running towards him, and he heard voices, low and guttural. The Southern invaders! He drew his sword from his sheath just as three men merged into his view. It was too late to run away so he ran towards them. They didn’t expect him to run so quickly in there direction and he passed them easily. But he knew he couldn’t outrun them for long.
Jensen then stumbled into a large clearing. There was a small but deep river running through it. If I can just jump it I might be able to get away.
The southerners were short and had small legs. They wouldn’t be able to make the jump clearing the river.
He ran to the river as fast as he could as an arrow flew past him barely missing. He was about to jump it when another arrow cut through is heel making him lose his footing. He turned and instinctly moved one arm up to keep balance but he moved his arm too high and fell to the other side, on his sword hand. As he fell the blade cut deep into is thigh. He screamed a scream that pierced the quiet of the forest all around. Everything was silent except for the noise of the flowing water, the noise of the enemy running at him, and the noise of his own heart beat, and the pain he felt. He collapsed and fell into the river.
He heard a huge explosion and started slipping into unconsciousness from the pain and the sudden cold of the water.
The last thing he felt was tightness gripping is arm and pulling him.

*****

Holly left Jensen leaned against a tree and decided to hide in the brush and follow him back to the camp. She had nowhere else to go. She was starting to except that this might actually be, somehow, truly, reality, and she just had to deal with it.
She sat there in the brush and waited for Jensen to get up. It took a while, and she was about to get up and leave him and try to find her own way, when she heard him groan. Holly quickly ducked behind the brush again as she watched him slowly get up. He looked himself up and down and seemed surprised to see is sword in his sheath but he just shook his head. He started to rub the back of his head were Holly it him and he winced. Then he looked around and headed in a direction.
After about a half an hour of walking Holly got really confused. She didn’t remember the camp being this far away. Does Jensen know I’m trailing him? Is he trying to loose me? He has to go back to the camp.
She lagged behind farther but stayed close enough behind so she could still see him in her vision. She had walked for about another half hour when all of a sudden she lost sight of him.
She was about to start running to where she saw him last in her vision when she heard footsteps. She saw Jensen get up so she ducked down quickly. “Hello?” Jensen said. She heard the footsteps run in the direction of Jensen’s voice, just a few yards ahead of her. She saw them for only a second. Jensen drew his sword and ran at them.
What the #%*@! Is going on! Holly didn’t think and caulked her shotgun; she had carried all this way, and ran after them. They were fairly far ahead of her and she ran as fast as she could only to come to a short stop when she came to a clearing. One of the three men had a bow and arrow and was shooting at Jensen. The other two were running towards him and a small river.
An arrow seemed to hit Jensen in the foot and he fell on his sword and he screamed like nothing Holly had ever heard before. She raised her gun and shot the archer hitting him in the calf, and ran towards Jensen. The two other men stopped in their tracks at the sound of the explosion, and were petrified at the sight of their fallen comrade and Holly running towards them. She easily passed them but as she jumped into the river and arrow hit her in the shoulder. Pain shot through her whole arm, sharp and burning. She screamed as she fell below the surface and breathed in water at the sudden coldness of the river. She chocked it out and swam with the current rushing towards Jensen as fast as she could despite the pain in her arm.
She saw his back bobbing on the surface. His head was under water! She had to get to him fast. The current was slowing as she neared a bend in the river. She swam faster and reached out as she neared him.
Holly dug her nails into his back and strained to pull him closer as the river started to speed up again as they cleared the turn. She wrapped her wounded arm around his chest and held on as best she could with the pain of the arrow throbbing throughout most of her left side. With the other she stayed afloat and tried to grab a hold of the shore but she was going too fast. Her adrenalin and energy were fading. She knew she couldn’t keep Jensen, let alone herself above the surface much longer. She needed to slow down.
Holly reached her good arm out and started dragging it along the shore. It hurt so badly. Right now everything hurt. But she was slowing down! Her arm was becoming twisted and mangled. It was numb and she couldn’t feel it almost at all. She was slowing and the water had stared to slow too. Up ahead holly saw a small sandbar jutting out leading to shore. If she could just position herself so the water would carry her to it she would be able to get out of the water.
She pulled her right arm back into the water and started to swim, awkwardly, diagonally to the sandbar. She was so tired. Suddenly she felt something smooth on her feet and stopped swimming. She didn’t have time to smile. She was in pain and he might die. She waited to shallower water until it was up to her wait and she heaved Jensen onto her shoulders.
He was already heavy and the fact that he was soaking wet and she was in pain didn’t help but she managed to get him on shore. Holly dragged him into the cover of trees, as to not be seen, and rolled him onto his back.
She leaned over and placed her head on his chest. “Thank God” she whispered. He was breathing. Somehow he had managed to not breathe in any water. She then checked his other wounds.
The arrow had only skimmed his left ankle, but his sword had cut deep into his calf. He was bleeding but the river had cleaned the wound. Holly ripped part of her shirt and tied it around his leg.
She looked around not knowing what to do. Then she spotted a familiar plant. It had needle like feathery green leaves. ‘Milfoil.’ Holly thought. ‘It will help the blood clot’
She rushed over and picked all that she could see. Holly then started laying the leaves on Jensen’s wounds and gently pressing the leaves into them. She hoped he hadn’t lost too much blood.
She sat down next to him and leaned against a tree. The she noticed the throbbing in her own body. She reached her right arm back to her shoulder and felt were the arrow had grazed it. It wasn’t as bad as she had originally thought. She took some of the leftover milfoil leaves and pressed them into her own wound. Then she looked at her arm. When she had been using it to slow her down it had become scraped and sprained. She didn’t think it was broken.
Holly was too tired to put it in a makeshift splint or sling now, so she slowly went to sleep, still hoping that it was all just a dream.

#3

Edward awoke with a start. He and Jensen had been comrades in status ever since he had arrived in the camp at the age of seven. Edward’s mother and father had died during a raid on there village by a group of drunken southern soldiers. Jensen’s father had been in the regiment that arrived shortly after the massacre. He had lifted Edward onto his battle mount and brought him to the camp were he was put in Jensen’s class on the practice field and in the garrison.
With someone Edwards age he could relate to and was I ranks with, Edward and Jensen became fast friends. They fought a lot, but got over it quickly, which was why Edward was surprised when Jensen didn’t show up. When the healer, Roland, came in Edward asked him to send for Jensen. When Roland was done administering the poppy and bleeding Edward, as to remove the evil spirits from his blood, Roland sent Tirrin for Jensen.
A short while later, Tirrin walked into the tent. “Sir,”
“Yes?”
“I have asked around and no one has seen the captain since midday yesterday.”
“Are you sure”
“Yes sir.”
“Well were did he go?”
“We don’t know but on the field yesterday Cia was called by the captain and asked were the location of the… the thing was. After that no one has seen him.
“If he doesn’t show up by sunrise I want you to go to the garrison and gather a company of 4 to 5 men and search for him.”
“Yes sir.”
Tirrin was about to exit the tent when he remembered something.
“And sir?”
“Yes?”
“The girl is…”
“Is what?”
“Well some of us think that Jensen might have taken her along.”
“What?”
“And some think she might have escaped and followed him.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Well the girl… she’s missing also.”

*****

Jensen awoke gasping for breath. His whole body burned. He wanted to scream. He would have screamed if his breath had not caught at the sight of her. Holly was lying on the ground beside him, a rose of blood staining her shirt. No! He leaned towards her, his leg throbbing. He rolled over onto his side. “Holly?”He whispered. “Oh no, Holly…” his voice cracked, and he started to shiver.
He didn’t know what to do, or what had happened. He thought she was dead. Jensen just stared at her unable to speak. Then she sighed…

TO BE CONTINUED

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 25.06.2010

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