Hey readers! Thank you for your continued support and patience! I'm really excited about this chapter and I hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 6: Ophelia
It was the second day we had been traveling. The ruffians rarely stopped moving, if only to steal more goods and sell off their older provisions. They paid no mind to me, although they allowed me a few scraps of food and a chance to stretch my legs every now and again. My mind had finally cleared and my eyes were keenly taking in all the details I could. From what I could gather, we were nearing the Ferox and Yllssean border. Another two and half days would put us near the ports.
I would have to escape before then…
But how?
With the thundering of hooves and shifting goods, the cart train came to a sudden halt. I glanced around from my seat in the last cart. I shifted around for a better look, but chose to stay hidden behind a large bag of grains. The nearest village was far off in the distance, so I could not conceive why we had stopped. I finally caught a glimpse of another group of carts blocking our path, and the leader of this group of brigands had decided to start a fight with my kidnappers. From the growing volume of the shouts between the two bands, I could not foresee this altercation ending anytime soon.
An idea blazed to the front of my mind. This could be just the diversion I had been so hoping for. I took stock of my surroundings. My ankles were free from bounds, but my wrists were bound behind my back. I was in the grain and feed cart; there were no easily available weapons or any means of freeing my wrists. Although it was not tactically sound, I had to make a run for it. Carefully I edged my way to the back of the cart, I glanced towards the front of the wagon train. All of the men were preoccupied with fighting each other, and did not even have time to conceive the idea that one bit of their cargo may be escaping. I swung my legs over the cart and, with one more cautionary glance behind me, flung myself on the ground. My feet connected with the dirt and I stumbled onto my knees. I let out a surprised puff of air. I forgot to calculate the loss of balance from my bound wrists. Instinctually, I crouched down and listened. The only sound was the brawling idiots.
With not more hesitation, I shot forward and into the forest. I ran relatively far, until I could no longer see the road. I quickly found myself out of breath; my body was weak from my illness and the lack of comfort provided by my kidnappers. Catching my breath, I looked around for a means of freeing my hands. Still no luck.
Next step, find a village, find a horse, and find the Shepherds.
I turned northward, toward the Ferox and Ylissean border. If anyone was looking for me, I had to go to Ferox. The clues I had left behind would lead them to the northern country, and hopefully our paths would cross. Before the carts had pulled out two days ago, I managed to shimmy off one of my shoes and shove it off of the cart. In addition, I found a few dusty Ferox coins and threw them onto the ground next to my shoe. I knew that Chrom would recognize my shoe, but I hoped that he would understand what the coins meant. Hopefully, someone would see the significance, because Chrom could be pretty thick sometimes. Without slowing my pace, I continued through the wood. Even though I did my best to dodge the limbs in the thicket, the unblocked branches still made contact with my skin and left scratches on my face and neck.
When I was sure that I had left my kidnappers behind, I found my way back onto the road. After just a few more minutes of walking I entered the village I had seen in the distance earlier. The village was alive with activity. I tried my best to blend into the shadows and stay away from the bustling villagers. My wrists chaffed against the leather bands, I needed to find a way to remove them. I hurried down a shadowy side street, hoping to find some old discarded weapons or cracked pieces of wood. Half way down the broken cobbled street, a group of men exited a falling down building.
Great, just great, am I going to be kidnapped again?
I shifted off to the side of the road as they passed, paying no mind to me. I let out a sigh of relief. As I passed the sketchy building, another figure came out of the door. However, this man took immediate notice of me.
"Stop right there girl," He commanded. I hesitantly came to a halt, ready to run at the slightest sign of malevolence. He stepped of the stoop and pulled a knife out of his belt. My muscles stiffened and I followed his movements carefully.
"Do you need your wrists undone?" He asked glancing from my arms to my face. I gaped at him for a moment, and quickly nodded. I turned my back to the stranger and he easily sliced through the leather straps. I moved my stiff arms and rubbed my irritated wrists. I offered a hushed thank you before I hurried away. I found my way back the main street, feeling a renewed confidence. Two free hands meant I fit in with the crowd, and now I could easily steal a horse.
But…
If I did manage that, where would I ride too? I did not know where I was or even where the Shepherds would be by now. I knew where we had planned on moving the troops, but it was improbable that the army would be moved there in my absence. I ruffled my tangled hair; my brain still was not fully cooperating with me. I shook my head and decided determinedly I would find something to eat before thinking about this anymore. I strolled up the crowded street, limping a bit due to the lack of one of my shoes. I eyed the food stalls longingly, imagining a warm turkey sandwich…
The thwack of a whip and the thundering of a horde of soldiers suddenly cut through the sounds of the village. Screams rose from the village gate and the crowd erupted into chaos. I struggled toward the front of the crowd and my breath caught in my throat. Plegian soldiers swarmed into the village going straight for the villagers themselves.
"This is a raid for Plegian fugitives! Come quietly and no one gets hurt; put up a fight and we burn the whole damn village down!"
~~~Chrom's POV
My stomach grumbled angrily, but I refused to acknowledge my weakening body. I had been travelling relentlessly for two days in search of my tactician. I was not going to slow down for one minute while I knew that she was in danger. Ophelia's slipper hung heavily in my pocket; I had found it in a remote clearing in the forest near patch of cart tracks. It had given me a burst of hope. I knew I was on the right track and that I was looking for a group of carts. Luckily, there as only one main, clear road from here to Regna Ferox with few villages along the way. I had to keep that in mind; I had to have some hope to fight against the crushing feeling deep in my chest. I just hoped that the cart tracks I had been following belonged to Ophelia's kidnappers.
I came around a bend in the road to see a group of carts heading toward me. A burst of energy bloomed in my stomach; I'd ask them if they saw my tactician. I raced down the road, quickly closing the distance between us. Breathing heavily I jumped in front of one of the men.
"A girl… with red hair… Have you..?" I said through my gasping breaths. The man's eyes went wide. He grabbed the front of my shirt.
"That girl is ours, we caught her ourselves. Where is she?" He growled at me. I gaped at him for a moment, not fully understanding what he had said. Finally, understanding washed over me, and I felt like I had been punched in the gut. These were the ones who kidnapped Ophelia. I pulled of the man's grasp and unsheathed Falchion. I could not feel anything except for anger coursing through my veins. I kicked the man onto the ground before he had a chance to react and held Falchion poised at his throat.
"Where is she? What have you done with her?" I growled. The man tried to get up but I pressed my sword against the flesh of his neck. His companions were finally starting to take notice of my presence and were starting to close in.
"Who..?!" The man asked, sweat dripped down his face.
"THE GIRL! Ophelia! The red head you kidnapped!" I added pressure to the point of my blade. The man's face went white.
"We've lost her, I swear it! We had her but now she's gone." The man's voice was small and fearful. I pulled Falchion away and turned toward his cronies. They eyed me warily, not sure if they should attack me or leave me be. I was ready to kill each of them if they so much as took a step toward me.
"Get out of my way." I said simply. Making a good decision, the brigands let me pass. As much as I wanted to skin each man alive, I could not waste anymore time. Ophelia had escaped, but she was still not safely in my arms. I continued up the road, a little bit more hope pressing against the darkness in my chest.
The road rose slightly, but over the incline I could see smoke curling into the sky. A village must be close by. Maybe Ophelia had found refuge there. I quickened my pace and climbed the slight grade. At the crest of the hill, I looked into the distance. My heart leapt into my throat.
Flames curled over the shops and houses and I could hear the faint tortured cries of the villagers.
I ran as fast as Naga would allow me to go.
Just a reminder:
I do not own Fire Emblem.
