*~*~*Freedom*~*~*


*~*~*Don't scare me…Don't scare me….*~*~*


Before I knew it the house was surrounded.

There was an understated tension in the air as the shadows moved about in the darkness. I could hear the trickle of water in the background as Dorna continued to brush her teeth in the bathroom, completely unaware. I contemplated briefly if it was a good idea to warn her or to deal with it myself without letting her know.

"I'm just going outside for some fresh air." I called out to Dorna at last. I checked the two openings, the front door and the back door. In all there were about six people, all masked and armed with swords. I took the back door.

In the garden, overgrown with vines and weeds, stood two men both shocked by my sudden appearance. The sound of swords being drawn echoed in the night air but they hesitated to strike.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" I said as more men gathered from the sides of the house, coming to see what the trouble was.

"Who are you?" said a large, menacing one.

"She just came out of the house, Garner. What should we do with her?" replied another.

The man named Garner stared at me then back at the house. "Just keep her quiet." He said and with one smooth swing he sliced the back door straight off its hinges. At the same time the front door crashed onto the ground and two more men came running into the house. I moved into position to stop them but a sword came at me.

"Don't try anything funny sweetheart," said one of the men "Just keep still. I don't want to have to hurt you."

I smiled. "That's nice of you… but you are the one that is going to get hurt."

The two men had no time to register my words before they found themselves face first in the ground, spines snapped in two. There was a shrill scream coming from the house and I ran.

Three men surrounded Dorna and one was hunched on the floor, holding a cloth to his bleeding arm. I noticed the bloodied knife in the old lady's hand and suppressed a grin. She was tenacious woman.

"Robin, get out of here, run!" she screamed as the men swivelled back, alarmed to see me out of the garden.

"What is she doing here, get her out!" Garner yelled and the two men approached me warily. Garner turned and swung his sword towards Dorna, disarming her instantly. "We're not leaving until you give us the journal, the real one this time."

He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to her feet.

"Where is it?" he demanded again, but this time he let her go when he saw his two comrades fall to the floor, unconscious. My arms disappeared in a flurry of petals and Garner stared at me wide-eyed. He let go of Dorna's wrist and she ran over to me, shaking like a fallen leaf. Garner looked outside the window at the two fallen men and at the ones grovelling at his knees.

"It looks like you got yourself a good bodyguard this time, Dorna-san." He said in a scathing voice. "I don't know, who you are or why you are here, but it wasn't a good idea to get involved."

Despite his threat, Garner sheathed is sword and picked up the two fallen men over his shoulders. "Go get the two outside." He ordered the man nursing the wound Dorna had inflicted with her knife.

"I was going to leave peacefully. But you won't be so lucky next time… that guy isn't as patient as I am when it comes to matters like this." Garner said as he exited the house into the darkness beyond.

"Peacefully, he says, after coming here armed like a mercenary." I said after Dorna collapsed herself onto the bed.

"Well as peaceful as brutes can be." Dorna said between breaths. "Thank you for your help, Robin. I can still feel my heart beating… How do you stay so calm?"

"Men like that don't scare me" I said as I moved some furniture to hold up the fallen door. "But who were they? What did they come here to get, Dorna-san?"

"For the journal." She answered. "They are called the Culling Swordsmen. They came here for the journal."

I remembered the man, Garner demanding the journal, the real one this time, he had said.

"It's not the first time they've been here?"

"No. It's probably not the last either." Dorna replied warily. "I'm sorry for getting you involved Robin dear."

"It's no problem. But what is this journal?"

"It's my translation of the tablets in the ruins. The journal itself is nothing valuable."

"Then why are they so desperate for it?"

"There aren't many scholars around these days, particularly not on this island. There is something in the ruins that they are searching for. They believe that they can find it by using my notes, but I am not so kind that I will surrender my life's work so easily."

I nodded and smiled in understanding. A scholar couldn't hand over their notes to someone unworthy that easily. In the same situation, I would have done the same. To fight for my work; in my mind it was just as important as fighting for my friends.

"We should get some rest. I want to investigate the ruins tomorrow." I said with concealed excitement.

The next morning couldn't come soon enough. I washed my face as Dorna prepared breakfast in the other room. We ate in comfortable silence and when I was ready to leave Dorna handed me a small bag, weighed down by a journal.

"I don't know how much use this will be to you Robin dear, but please except this."

"What about those men, won't they come back for it?"

"I'd rather you have it then." She smiled and winked. It was strange but she took me into her frail arms and gave me a long, affectionate hug which, after a moment, I returned generously." Be safe."

The walk towards the ruins was a pleasant one. Even though I had faced an attack only a few hours ago, I felt much more optimistic walking through the forest now than I had before. I even took time to appreciate the birds chirping before I stopped mid-step at the sound of rattling distance. The clatter of swords clinking together echoed in the forest as the stranger came closer and just as I prepared for an attack a familiar face appeared.

Much to my surprise and relief "Oh, it's you" had never sounded better to my ears.


*~*~*Don't scare me…Don't scare me….*~*~*

That ends that chapter! Well, I guess Robin soloed those mooks...when will Zoro get the chance step into his role as knight in shining armor?! Hehehe I look forward to some food fireworks! Thanks again to my lovely reviewers!