Chapter 1
Shiri* stumbled along the path, the hem of her dress all muddy and stained with rain-washed dirt. Thorns from various bramble bushes stuck to her dress like Velcro to Cotton. The sun was just setting in the west, the ominous clouds smothering the last flames of light that peeked over the horizon, almost refusing to extinguish. The young girl, barely over the age of 14, was out of breath in less then 10 minutes, her tear-streaked face refusing to give in to her aching body. She pushed on ignoring the throbbing pain in her feet. Finally, after a few more minutes of the torture that she could not possibly endure for another minute, she came to a conclusion, one that would suit her physical and mental needs. Shiri paused by a tree, the peeling bark marking the age of the tall oak that towered over her with an authority that reminded her of her father. She leaned against it panting, her breath coming in ragged gasps, only the knowledge of what would have happened at home drove her on, making her put one foot in front of the other. She threw off her sandals, instead wrapping her feet in cotton handkerchiefs that would cushion the sore blisters and protect her delicate skin from the pine needles and other spiky plants that she didn't hold in favor. Shiri, frightened immensely by the feeling of lurking predators watching her with probing eyes, wished she could sink in to the background, turn invisible somehow. But, she thought, if I turned back now a fair whipping I would get.and to marry that wretch of a man!! What of mine poor love then? He would watch from the shadows as I marry and curse the day he was born.would it not be for mine father's shriveling soul I may have long ago thrust the dagger between mine ribs and gaily have watched mine 'husband's' face turn down in horror as if I were a bargain lost. At that though, her face twisted in disgust, the feeling of being so near the town of her father made her jaw stiffen determinedly. She re- adjusted the pouch hanging full of water at her waist, with a few hidden gold coins with their good King Harry's face marking the age, so that it didn't tip involuntarily and throw off the balance while she was running. Soon the lark would begin his morning song and her father would discover her empty chamber.setting the bloodhounds upon her trail faster than the melting of snow. Shiri checked the position of the sun again and made her way towards it, setting off at a slower pace towards her destination near the west. About an hour of walking quickly tired her out but the stiffness and aching in her legs seemed to wear off with the twilight. A sudden ruffle of leaves snapped her back in to awareness making her blood run cold. Tears streamed down her face as she recognized the crest of a star sitting against a leaf sown to a leather hide through some branches of a rose bush. Her hands came out as she rushed blindly towards the swaying form in front of her and the warmth returned to her body as powerful arms of a known archer returned the embrace. "They shan't get us now, so close to the heart of Sherwood Forest. They wouldn't dare to enter the perimeter of Robin Hood's domain," the words rushed out of her mouth and she continued in a soft voice, barely exceeding a whisper, "O, my lord I was so frightened thee wouldn't reach mine helpless soul before they entered the forest. We must flee further on, seek the guidance of the known outlaw. Listen to mine feeble voice, we shall reach the heart of the forest before the cold of the night catches on." The well known green eyes stared sorrowfully back at her as the booming voice replied slowly but thoughtfully, "We shall flee onward.toward the outlaws famous feasting place.yet not a penny have I to spare. If we must go there, so be it, yet I see no point in hurrying towards neither hell nor heaven. We now lie 'twixt the fingers of fate and what may happen.whilst I die or live.thou shall go on. Promise me this love, that thou whilst go on.no matter my death." His eyes were stern and held a meaning far deeper then she realized at the moment, the gaze engraved itself in her memory. "Thou shall not die." Her whisper was but a breath. "How dost thou know? Pray tell me love," his voice hinted at a sarcasm beneath the gentle gaze. A small tear appeared in the corner of her eye as she looked to the ground, "You know I wouldn't die for thee. How couldst thou asketh of me such a vow that wouldst make me crumble?" "Promise! For mine own sake if not for thine's, " his frantic whisper made her nod. Shiri grabbed her love's hand and rushed off in to the darkness.scared that if she let go of him she would lose him forever.
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*Shiri: song of the soul
Shiri* stumbled along the path, the hem of her dress all muddy and stained with rain-washed dirt. Thorns from various bramble bushes stuck to her dress like Velcro to Cotton. The sun was just setting in the west, the ominous clouds smothering the last flames of light that peeked over the horizon, almost refusing to extinguish. The young girl, barely over the age of 14, was out of breath in less then 10 minutes, her tear-streaked face refusing to give in to her aching body. She pushed on ignoring the throbbing pain in her feet. Finally, after a few more minutes of the torture that she could not possibly endure for another minute, she came to a conclusion, one that would suit her physical and mental needs. Shiri paused by a tree, the peeling bark marking the age of the tall oak that towered over her with an authority that reminded her of her father. She leaned against it panting, her breath coming in ragged gasps, only the knowledge of what would have happened at home drove her on, making her put one foot in front of the other. She threw off her sandals, instead wrapping her feet in cotton handkerchiefs that would cushion the sore blisters and protect her delicate skin from the pine needles and other spiky plants that she didn't hold in favor. Shiri, frightened immensely by the feeling of lurking predators watching her with probing eyes, wished she could sink in to the background, turn invisible somehow. But, she thought, if I turned back now a fair whipping I would get.and to marry that wretch of a man!! What of mine poor love then? He would watch from the shadows as I marry and curse the day he was born.would it not be for mine father's shriveling soul I may have long ago thrust the dagger between mine ribs and gaily have watched mine 'husband's' face turn down in horror as if I were a bargain lost. At that though, her face twisted in disgust, the feeling of being so near the town of her father made her jaw stiffen determinedly. She re- adjusted the pouch hanging full of water at her waist, with a few hidden gold coins with their good King Harry's face marking the age, so that it didn't tip involuntarily and throw off the balance while she was running. Soon the lark would begin his morning song and her father would discover her empty chamber.setting the bloodhounds upon her trail faster than the melting of snow. Shiri checked the position of the sun again and made her way towards it, setting off at a slower pace towards her destination near the west. About an hour of walking quickly tired her out but the stiffness and aching in her legs seemed to wear off with the twilight. A sudden ruffle of leaves snapped her back in to awareness making her blood run cold. Tears streamed down her face as she recognized the crest of a star sitting against a leaf sown to a leather hide through some branches of a rose bush. Her hands came out as she rushed blindly towards the swaying form in front of her and the warmth returned to her body as powerful arms of a known archer returned the embrace. "They shan't get us now, so close to the heart of Sherwood Forest. They wouldn't dare to enter the perimeter of Robin Hood's domain," the words rushed out of her mouth and she continued in a soft voice, barely exceeding a whisper, "O, my lord I was so frightened thee wouldn't reach mine helpless soul before they entered the forest. We must flee further on, seek the guidance of the known outlaw. Listen to mine feeble voice, we shall reach the heart of the forest before the cold of the night catches on." The well known green eyes stared sorrowfully back at her as the booming voice replied slowly but thoughtfully, "We shall flee onward.toward the outlaws famous feasting place.yet not a penny have I to spare. If we must go there, so be it, yet I see no point in hurrying towards neither hell nor heaven. We now lie 'twixt the fingers of fate and what may happen.whilst I die or live.thou shall go on. Promise me this love, that thou whilst go on.no matter my death." His eyes were stern and held a meaning far deeper then she realized at the moment, the gaze engraved itself in her memory. "Thou shall not die." Her whisper was but a breath. "How dost thou know? Pray tell me love," his voice hinted at a sarcasm beneath the gentle gaze. A small tear appeared in the corner of her eye as she looked to the ground, "You know I wouldn't die for thee. How couldst thou asketh of me such a vow that wouldst make me crumble?" "Promise! For mine own sake if not for thine's, " his frantic whisper made her nod. Shiri grabbed her love's hand and rushed off in to the darkness.scared that if she let go of him she would lose him forever.
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*Shiri: song of the soul