Chapter 2:
Here I am again with the second chapter. I'm not sure if you've noticed but i'm combining two chapter to make one long one for this revision.
After Ranaya finished the stall she decided to go to her little spot in the woods where she liked to secretly target. No one knew she liked archery and fencing. She kept it secret except to her brother, Dari who fenced with her when he wasn't traveling.
Dressing into some of her boy's clothes she traveled through the trap doors from her room out of the back of the castle. There wasn't anyone outside to see her but she did not want to take a chance on someone finding out her secret.
She made a dash going deep into the dense forest, ignoring all the thorns that tried to snag her breeches. It was still damp from the rain earlier.
The forest was lively that day. Deer and birds passed Ranaya as she made her way through. It was a beautiful day and she was already forgetting what went on between her father.
A gold streak passed through the trees ahead and Ranaya froze in wonder. What was that? She stared out between the trees as the gold streak halted. She gasped and almost tripped in her shock.
There stood with his front leg poised up a gold unicorn. Perhaps it wasn't gold but to Ranaya all she could describe him as was gold. His coat was a creamy color. His mane and tail like liquid gold. He shined from where he stood. Ranaya stood rooted at the spot and couldn't stop staring.
The unicorn's horn was long and also gold as were his hooves. It was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen.
Ranaya stumbled and a twig snapped. She scolded herself silently as the golden unicorn craned his head toward her. And then like a gold streak he was gone.
She shook her head and then began walking toward her hollow tree where her weapons were located.
"Ah I wish this was that King!" Ranaya angrily shot an arrow a few minutes later, at the target board tied to an old oak. Of course she wasn't really that mean. She was just thinking irrationally.
Suddenly a dagger hissed right by her head and stabbed the bull's eye.
Ranaya gasped in surprise and amazement. She didn't want anyone to know where her hideout was. But that shot was amazing! She whirled around to see who threw the dagger.
She heard someone chuckle at her words.
She had half expected to see King Karik but to her utter surprise Lando stood behind her looking a little sheepish. Instead of getting mad at him she decided to give him a break since he was new to everything.
"You must loath this King a great deal," were his words.
"That was an amazing shot. How did you learn to throw so well?" Ranaya asked, curiously as he retrieved his dagger, ignoring his words completely. She noticed he wore an axe on his belt.
"My Father taught me everything I know," He smiled at the thought, putting his dagger where it belonged on his belt.
"Your Father must be an amazing man," Ranaya released her bow string, letting her arrow hiss through the air landing quite close to where Land's dagger had been.
"Yes he is," Lando mused, looking around. "You're not too bad of a shot, yourself. Who taught you archery?"
"My brother, Dari. He's away right now," Ranaya missed him horribly, "He taught me swordsmanship also." Ranaya looked around to see what Lando was looking at, seeing nothing. He was a strange man.
"Ah, Swordswoman also? How do your parents feel of your aptitudes?" Lando questioned, starting to get the look one would when they think they are talking too much.
"They don't know anything about it," Ranaya frowned in worry. If he told Harry about this, Harry would tell someone else and eventually it would reach her parents and she would be in big trouble, practicing boy's work.
"Don't worry if you don't want them to know I won't say a word," Lando assured, seeing Ranaya's expression.
"Thank you," She sighed in relief, giving him a smile.
"I should get back to work. Harry has made me temporary woodcutter since my work at the stable is done. I better get to the chopping," Lando said, politely, "Maybe we could do a little fencing sometime," he added, bowing.
"That would be nice," Ranaya curtsied, giving him a smile. Her day had turned out better than it had started. She had just befriended a very nice lad. A friend she hoped to keep.
The next few weeks she tried to make good of, spending time with the new stable-hand Lando, helping him get used to the area and finding things.
"Would you like to do some fencing?" Lando asked after he had gotten all his work done. He sat on a hay bale.
"Are you challenging me?" Ranaya cocked an eyebrow, sitting beside him. Finally she had someone to practice with!
Lando got up and walked over to where a pack and sheath were leaned against the wall. He unsheathed the sword and pointed it at Ranaya, threatening playfully.
"I take that as a yes," Ranaya laughed, getting up as he put his sword back and slung his pack over his shoulder and hooking his sword to his belt.
Harry walked in just at that moment, "You better not go anywhere yet, Your Highness, wherever you're heading. King Karik has requested your presence in the garden. He needs to talk to you about future plans," He sat down a sack he was carrying on his shoulder with a grunt.
Ranaya groaned in annoyance, "Meet me in the forest in two hours," she whispered to Lando, leaning close to his ear.
He jerked back in surprise at the extremely close contact to his ear, startling Ranaya but she didn't let him see it.
Lando rubbed his ear through his hair. Such a strange gesture.
"Karik?" Landrian's eyes widened and his face paled. "That is your betrothed?"
She nodded, "Farewell," Ranaya excused, going off on the path to the garden. Why was his reaction of one of horror?
Future plans, Ranaya scoffed in her head. Forget your plans I am not marrying you! She kicked a stick out of her path in a fury.
King Karik was sitting on a bench beside the large birdbath. The garden had almost 100's of types of flowers and statues everywhere. It was eerily quiet and there were no birds at the birdbath which was quite odd.
"Hello," Ranaya said stiffly, sitting down on the bench as far away as possible from Karik.
"I'm glad you could make it. I guess you know the reason I'm here for. There was an arranged marriage at your birth and now since you are of age I am to marry you soon," Karik said, sounding polite, despite his devious expression.
"As so I've heard," Ranaya fought that urge to roll her eyes. He's going to think marry when I get done with him if he tries anything rash.
"Well it will be a while till we are married. About a month. But your parents have agreed for you to travel back to Zachavi with me next week," Karik said casually. Oh his voice was irritating. So sleek smooth…if a snake could talk that's what kind of voice it would have. Karik was most indeed a snake.
Ranaya thought she was going to retch. She couldn't leave her country in a week let alone marry the King of Racists in a month!
She leapt up from the bench, "I shan't marry you! You cannot make me!" she yelled, not caring if anyone heard.
Karik stood at her words, "You will, no doubt like it or not!" he looked ready for vengeance and Ranaya found herself pressed against the birdbath.
"Face it Princess," he spat her title out like it had a bad taste.
In an act of impulse Ranaya's hand came up and slapped him squarely against his cheek. She froze in horror afraid of what she'd done.
Karik raised his hand as if to slap her but to her surprise he grabbed her chin and made her look up at him, "Very nice eyes, but that red hair is horrid. What's even more horrid is your skin color!" he said in disgust, "Only slaves are this tan! What a sorry excuse of a Princess you are."
"If you've only come to insult and ridicule me then I suggest you leave," Ranaya glared in anger. How dare he talk about her like that. He treated her like a slave so what did it matter to him if her skin wasn't milky white like everyone else and looked like a slave's?
Karik gave her a death glare but retreated. It seemed as if the world around him turned dark with his mood. His hands clenched into fists and it was then she saw long, cruel, and sharp talons. What was this man?
Don't scream, don't scream, she chided herself as she stared at Karik's nails.
Ranaya backed away and ran back into the forest. Tears started rolling down her cheeks without her control and about the time she reached her hideout she was sobbing hysterically.
To her utter embarrassment Lando was already there, sitting on a rock, studying something he held in his hands.
"Oh!" Ranaya gasped, turning away her face so he couldn't tell she was crying. She didn't want him to think she was a spoiled, ninny of a Princess.
Lando looked up in surprise, "Is something wrong?" he already knew what was going on but he wanted to ask any way to see what she'd say.
"This King thinks he owns me," she sniffed, wiping her eyes. She still avoided his gaze as she sat down by her hollow tree.
"Yes King Karik thinks he owns a lot of things-," Lando said in a strange tone. She tried not to pay attention to how he always knew so much.
"I am arranged to marry him in a month and I have to go to Zachavi next week but I don't want to marry him! He's cruel and a ruler of a racist country," Ranaya stopped crying, feeling a little stronger after she talked about it.
She looked up at him to see his beautiful face contort in a pained expression. He sighed, looking suddenly much sorrowed.
"Are you okay?" Ranaya asked, alarmed.
He looked up at her his blue eyes piercing her very soul, "Can I tell you a secret and you won't tell anyone?" he sounded extremely serious, "I've known you for about three weeks now and I trust you."
"Yes, what is it?" she got up and sat beside him with a frown.
Lando took a deep breath then raised his hair off his always hidden ears.
Ranaya gasped in surprise. They were pointed not round.
"I'm an elf," Lando said softly, quickly letting his hair fall back down.
Suddenly she remembered all the mysterious reactions he gave her when she asked him certain questions. The way he heard her and spot her from faraway. The reason why it took him so long to answer his age and the reason he was so handsome.
"What are you doing here?" she felt panicky what if Karik found out he was an elf. He'd have him put to death!
The past three weeks she had found out just what kind of man King Karik was. Just as she thought he was. A cold-hearted man who didn't care about anyone but himself. He often talked about the elves in front of her and how he hoped he could exterminate them all in a few months. Ranaya had to keep her face straight from cringing.
"I'm in hiding," Lando explained.
"I-if Karik finds out you're an elf. He'll—ki-," Ranaya started. She couldn't bear the thought of Lando getting killed just because he was an elf. They had become so close those weeks. It was like they knew each other for years instead of mere weeks. She felt such a close attachment to him.
"Ah, ah, Ranaya, don't go there," Lando put a finger to her lips to silence her quickly. He didn't want her speak of his death like that. "They haven't found out yet, Ranaya. There's a chance they won't ever find out. I'm only hiding until Father sends me that we can live together again," Lando stood up to his full height.
"Why aren't you with your family?" Ranaya asked as Lando hauled her up by her hand.
"It's hard to hide if there is a large amount of elves hiding. My family are really the only ones hiding by their selves. Everyone else decided to stay in a hidden cavern. Father didn't think it was safe to stay with the others," Lando said to Ranaya, "We decided, hiding wasn't the option and instead we should act like humans and live in Lakishea."
Ranaya didn't say anything; she was too intent on pondering upon what he had explained. She fought back the urge to reach out and touch one of his leaf pointed shape ears.
After a few minutes of silence, Lando took his sword from its sheath, "Now, how about that fencing match?" he had that mischievous look about him. This would be the first time they did a round.
Ranaya was amazed of how he could be so cheerful in the time he was in. She shook her head and laughed, going to the hollow tree and retrieving her sword.
"Oh, great shards of rocks! We don't have any armor," Lando exclaimed, realizing they had no protection.
"I have it covered," Ranaya chuckled at his strange saying. It must have been elf. She felt good that he could be himself around her and not have to pretend he was something he was not. Ranaya walked into the hollow tree. It was large enough to have a small door that she could walk through.
She came out holding two sets of men's breast plates. She gave Lando her brother's since it was larger. Her's didn't fit well since it was made for a man not a woman but she had to make do. After all women weren't supposed to be occupying their selves with swords so she couldn't expect to get a woman's breast plate.
"You know that isn't very becoming of you," Lando teased her as she put on her armor. He circled her, wielding his sword, playfully."
"Neither is your nose," Ranaya teased back, scrapping swords with him, "Rules?"
"Watch your face, make sure to keep your sword from touching your opponent's body where there's no armor, and no going after the legs with your hilt," Lando said as their swords crossed, "I'll try to be easy on you," he gave her a grin.
Ranaya gave him a bored look, "You got me," she caught him off guard, clanging her sword against his and leaping away.
"Ah, ha!" Lando tried to knock her sword from her hands but it almost turned out the other way around.
In about two minutes Ranaya had Lando pinned to the ground with her sword pressing against his breast plate.
Lando was shocked of how well Ranaya was at fencing.
"And that wasn't even trying," Ranaya said matter-of-factly, pulling Lando up who was shaking his head feverishly trying to figure out what hit him.
"I would hate to see what trying is with you," He picked up his sword with a laugh.
"That was beguiling," Ranaya stripped off her armor and putting it and the sword back in the tree before anyone saw her besides Lando.
"You would think so, Your Highness," Lando have her back Dari's breast plate. He only called her Your Highness to get her nettled. He never called her anything but Ranaya.
"Don't call me that!" Ranaya fell for the bait. She put everything back in the tree and locked the door with the key she wore on a chain around her neck. Another present from her brother. She then turned back to Lando who was trying his hardest not to crack another laugh.
"Temper, temper. I guess it's true about redheads," Lando tssked his tongue, ready to run if she went for him.
"Why you-," Ranaya bolted after him as he made a run for it. They both started laughing. She wasn't at all mad at him and he knew it.
All the trees they passed were a blur of green. She felt so free and not like the Princess she was.
He was a fast runner. It wasn't long until she couldn't see him and she was alone.
Elves, she presumed, slowing down to look around and see if he was hiding behind a tree to jump out and scare her.
"Lando, where are you?" she called, darting around a few trees. There was nothing but silence.
Suddenly she felt an uneasy feeling settle in her stomach. Something felt wrong. What she didn't know.
A few minutes later she felt panicky again. After all he told her about being an elf she couldn't help but be paranoid that he would be found out.
"Lando please, don't scare me like this," suddenly she ran into something and fell onto her bottom with an "Oof." That something turned out to be Lando's back. "Lando, don't do that again-!" Ranaya cried out, getting up and brushing herself off. Not being able to find him upset her a great deal, she felt like crying in relief. She looked up at him. He was staring at something ahead. She at first thought he hadn't heard her.
"Karik is searching the forest for you," Lando said in a strange tone. It frightened her more than not being able to find him.
"How do you know?" Ranaya whispered, grabbing onto his arm. She felt sick, he was going to find out she was spending all her free time with a stable-hand and probably threaten Lando…or hurt him.
"Look," Lando said, his arm was tense in her grasp. His blue eyes stared into the distance.
Ranaya followed his eyes until she spotted Karik not far away. "Hide!" she whispered-screamed at him, yanking on his arm. He willingly followed her behind the first big tree. She felt like such a coward. She never was fearful for herself much except when she thought Karik was going to strike her. She had no earthly idea why she was scared. It wasn't like her to have such much terror invoked in her.
She still held onto Lando's arm in a vice grip. Lando stood very close to her as if he were scared for her safety.
Leaves crunched signaling Karik was extremely close by. Each crunch made Ranaya's heart beat faster. It dawned on her as the crunches stopped in front of the tree. She wasn't at all fearful of herself. She was scared Lando would be punished for all his time with her or be found out being an elf. Oh, Ranaya couldn't think it! He was her best friend she had ever had and probably ever would have.
"Ranaya, My Dear, where are you?" Karik used a sweet coated poisonous tone. She betted he knew she was behind that tree. His raked his deathly across the tree, making a screeching noise on the tree bark.
Lando stiffened. Could he see the true Karik? Her father certainly couldn't.
As always she acted on a whim. Without a second thought she grabbed Lando's sword from his belt and jumped out from behind the tree ready to defend her elf friend
Lando was horrified of her action. He didn't want her to get hurt on his account. He was perfectly capable of defending his own self.
"Ranaya, no!" he shouted, but it was too late. He ran after her.
"Ah, there you are," Karik looked a little bored as he noticed the sword in her hands pointed at him. She saw him glare at Lando who now stood beside her.
Ranaya suddenly realized she couldn't give knowing how to use a sword away. What had she been thinking?
"Ranaya, really girl. Do you think you could use that thing, seriously," Karik shook his head at her as if she were the dumbest creature alive.
"You're right," she dropped the sword as if it weighed 50 pounds. Lando gave her a confused look but picked his sword up with a frown.
"And who are you?" Karik spat at Lando with hate blazing in his eyes. It was clear that he was jealous of Lando. She could have sworn fire literally blazed in his black eyes.
Ranaya's eyes become huge as she noticed the 5 knives attached to Karik's belt.
Karik withdrew his sword advancing them with a look of vengeance.
Lando pulled Ranaya behind him protectively, "Leave her out of this!" he snapped at the Zachavian King. It was his turn to protect now.
"Why I should have taught her a lesson weeks ago when she told her Father she wouldn't marry me. You're not even worth marrying! But the thing is your Father and my Father arranged the marriage so now I have no choice but to marry you unless I kill you…Which is an option," Karik sounded like a madman. His appearance changed then. Less human. Darkness surrounded them. Fire began to blaze from his eyes and mouth and he gave them both a sinister smile.
Ranaya gulped in horror and began to shake. She finally knew what this King truly was. A dragon. She'd never seen one but she knew it in her heart that he was one. Lando could see through his human façade as well.
He plucked a knife from his belt. A long two edged dagger.
Ranaya wasn't exactly standing behind Lando at that moment; she was over to his side. She looked up just as Karik threw the knife and it hissed in the air coming right at her. She screamed, paralyzed in shock she could only cover her face.
Lando immediately dropped the sword and his hand came out quickly and caught the knife in midair. It was an inch from killing Ranaya. He casually dropped it like it was nothing, his look not changing. Oh but Ranaya could fell tension radiating off him.
Ranaya fell to her knees in shock of what had just happened.
"My, my, how impressive you think you are. Let's see what you'll do when you have three coming at you," Karik started laughing, "I'll tend to you later," he warned Ranaya who didn't answer and looked at the earth.
Lando barely had time to think as three knives were sailing right at him. He caught each and every one of them at the same time, letting them drop to the ground once again.
"That wasn't even trying," Lando used Ranaya's words. And it was true indeed.
"If I see you two together again I will have you both punished for Ranaya not being loyal to her betrothed!" he said, stepping forward to retrieve all his daggers.
Karik thought they were in love!
"You won't get away with this!" Lando yelled, as Karik started away back toward the castle.
"No one is going to believe you when you tell them I tried to kill you," Karik said crudely, his voice faded off into the distance. The darkness around them abating.
Oh dear God, she couldn't marry this man. Ranaya's heart froze in fear. Fear that wouldn't abate like the darkness.
Who can guess who and what the unicorn is doing in the woods?
Review if you want an update.
