"Daleigh…can't…breath!" She just ignored me and squeezed harder. Death by a hug. Never had that one before! She finally let go and I breathed deeply. Ah precious, wonderful, air! I smiled and her face immediately went from happy to evil, malicious, death glare. Oh really not good. If she was going to kill me when she was ecstatic what was going to happen when she was angry?!
Not to mention Caleb was just sitting on the rock again, watching me suffer. Yeah real good friend, he was protective of me when it was a guy but if it was a girl (cough Daleigh cough cough) then he was just fine… hmm suspicious. Especially since he claimed he wasn't jealous. "I'm going to give you five seconds. I would run if I were you!" I yelped and took off. Sure I could maybe take her but I wasn't really going to run that risk. Sure I could take on any guy no problem but you've never seen a mad Daleigh. Count yourselves lucky. I ran as fast as I could with Daleigh right behind me and the bad part, she was gaining and fast.
"Caleb if you had any decency you would help! What happened to being a good friend! Would a good friend let a good friend get killed?"
He just laughed and continued watching my plight. Ugh there goes my last hope! Just then Daleigh tackled me to the ground and I felt her fingers tickling me. Yeah I know not really bloody murder but come on! If you've ever been tickled like that then you know what I'm talking about! "No Daleigh... No! Please! Daleigh! Ah stop! Please!" I had to say it between peals of laughter both from me and Daleigh. I thrashed around trying to get free but no matter how hard I tried she kept me pinned. "Caleb help! No Daleigh! Please stop! Ah!" She was still tickling me but I just couldn't get free! She finally stopped and I thought my torture was over, well that is until I felt someone pick me up in their arms. "Caleb what are you doing? Caleb! Put me down!" He just smiled and I realized where he was walking "Caleb no don't put me in the water! NO! CALEB!"
He just kept up that evil smile "I thought you wanted to put you down? I'm just doing what you wanted." With that he dropped me in the water! I felt the cold envelope me and I quickly stood up in the water. Oh was that boy going to get it now! I ran after him socked to the bone and he took off. Oh but he would not go far. Now what's the best way to murder someone without anyone finding out hmm… I chased after him. Daleigh was cracking up on the ground and I decided I could get her first. I ran after her and she
jumped up and took off still laughing. I got her to the ground and smiled at her. PAYBACK!
"No Sakira! NO! Caleb was the one that dropped you in the water and I told you I would have to kill you if you did anything stupid! NO!" I began tickling her mercilessly. Well that is until another someone walked through the woods. Wow this place was turning into a regular hot spot.
"Sakira! Get off of her right now! Why are you soaking wet and what is going on!" Now I know you can figure who just came. Of course my sweet, not annoying step-mother, just perfect! "What is this that I hear about you going after your brother and joining a war? Not to mention the fact you look absolutely atrocious and was just tickling a lady in waiting! I'm a failure as a mother! To have a daughter that no one can control like some wild animal!"
Hey! I may not be like other girls so what! I was proud of who I was, I didn't need rescuing I did the rescuing and that was the way I would like it! Who needs to wait on some boy to do the job for you! I mean I have nothing against guys but why were they treated so high and mighty? Girls can do just as much as guys! And you know what I don't care I was going to take that as a compliment. I happen to like animals so why not!?
"Excuse me, you highness but your daughter is no wild animal, she's a good friend to Daleigh and I. You need to see for who she is and not who she isn't nor ever will be!" I looked at Caleb shocked. No one and I mean no one had ever stood up to my mother that way. Did I mention ever?! I looked back at my step mom and saw her mouth was slightly open and no words were coming out. Which pretty much translated into she was shocked beyond belief. No make that beyond words and trust me THAT is worse than beyond belief for my step-mother. "Your daughter saved countless lives on the battle field and is a hero. She risked her life for those both on our side and on theirs! She doesn't deserve for you to be calling her a wild animal and always ridiculing her! You should be proud to call her your step-daughter." Now I'm pretty sure at this point even my mouth was hanging on the floor. My step mother seemed to get over her shock and huffed away, nose in the air. I looked from Daleigh to Caleb and then all three of us broke into even more peals of laughter but something deep inside of me began pulling at me but I couldn't quite place it. I stopped laughing abruptly when realization came and hit me full force once again. How could I be laughing with friends when at this very moment my brother
was a slave? Idiot! The others glanced questioningly at me and then I could see a light go on in Caleb's eyes too. He frowned as he said "Come on we need to start packing and choose the knights that will come with us. It can't be too many so that we'll be easily spotted but just enough so that we can stand a chance." He glanced back in the direction of the camp. "We should find any other knights who will come and then narrow them down. It might take a while." I shook my head and he focused his attention once again on me. "What?"
"It won't take that long, because I already have two people in mind. I just need to know if they'll do it." I focused on Daleigh and our eyes met. My sky blue to her grass green. She broke my gaze staring off behind me thinking of something. "Come on Daleigh! You're the best archer in the land! Anyone can see that! Not to mention two guys and two girls would be a better chance than just three! And I would take three men but that would leave me the only woman and that would look a little off. Plus Daleigh we can't let all the men have the fun! You know you can do it so why not?! Come with us?"
"Well… if you put it that way then I might as well come. Can't let the royal pain get herself killed now can I?" I smiled at her and she gave me a small smile in return. Okay that settles that now just to find…
"Okay Daleigh's coming but who is this second guy?" Hmm was it just me or did Caleb sound jealous? Well one way to find out. To annoy Caleb or not to annoy Caleb that is the question. The answer to that particular question? Well let me give you a hint; it's not no. That help you any?
"Oh just an old friend I met while I was at the enemy camp. He looked really strong and he had the dreamiest eyes! I think he would be a true asset if he were to come along. Don't you Day?" I winked at her letting her in one the little joke and I could see the fairest hint of a smile.
"Oh you mean that one knight you met last summer? You saw him again!? How excellent, I remember you wouldn't shut up about him and how much stronger he was then you and how you respected him all the more for it!" I bit my tongue on that and gave her I'm-going-to-kill-you look. Should've known she was going to find a way to turn this against me.
"Of course Daleigh that knight from last summer who else? I mean we both already know so much about him you don't need to repeat it! I've only talked about him hundreds of times! But I'm sure we're boring Caleb
with this idle chatter and we do need to ask if he'll come along with us and help us with our supplies and such." Daleigh smiled once again and I groaned inwardly. What was she going to say now?
"Of course we've talked about him so much but yet I fail to remember his name? You should remember right?"
"Well of course, it was Aidan! You must be losing you memory to forget!" I smiled at her and it was her turn to glare. She knew that was just a name that I had made up on the spot but now there was nothing she could do about it so ha! Daleigh zero, me one!
"Well what is his last name? I know many of the knights around this area so maybe I would know him too." I bit my lip to hide a smile at Caleb's voice. He was jealous! I knew it! "That is if he even exists." I glared at him as he smirked smugly. He had known I was trying to pull one on him all along! This meant I was back to square one! Dang it!
"Come on we need to get supplies Mr. Know it all. Daleigh I blame you, why did you have to go and say he was stronger than me and of all things that I respected him for it? You know very well I'm not that gracious in defeat!"
"Yep I have the bruises to prove it. Remember our last fight?! Nearly killed me!" I stomped away from their smiling faces grumbling under my breath, about getting supplies and such to go and rescue my brother. Well that is until I got a very clever idea.
I turned back to the two following behind me laughing and noticed how their smiles faded as they looked at my face. "Well since this rescue mission was my idea that means I'm in charge. Meaning I tell we take off, when we rest, and when or what we eat. Meaning we're starting off early guys! Be ready by dawn the day after tomorrow!" I turned around and quickly ran off before anyone could object and began gathering necessities for our trip. I'm coming Ryan. Just hold on a while longer!
The sun's golden head was just peaking it's head when I jumped from bed. I hadn't gotten barely any sleep last night and I was just ready to get on the road. I had even slept in my traveling clothes! Sure the heavy wool pants and shirt were a little wrinkled but it wasn't like I was going to a royal ball or something. You dress for comfort not for style… or so I had heard. For the first time since coming up with this plan a small voice of doubt
leaked into my head. What if I wasn't strong enough for this? What if I blew the whole thing just because of some stupid pride? No! Now was not the time. I pushed the thoughts back were they belonged, in the back of my head easily ignored. I slipped on my boots and stood up with a smile. I was going to rescue my brother no matter what.
I ran into Caleb's room first and smiled as my small candle light flickered on the king size bed in the middle of the room. Caleb was wrapped up tightly in white blankets, his head lolled to one side. He looked almost too peaceful to wake up. I could end that! I tiptoed to his bed and lay my candle down on the small mahogany chest beside his bed, making sure to make as little sound as possible. Who knew how light of a sleeper he was, and I didn't feel like ruining my fun over some klutzy noise. I leaned down just centimeters from his ear and I could feel his soft breath blowing in and out in a steady rhythm. Aww. "CALEB! WAKE UP! Jeez the sun is almost up!" I moved quickly back and laughed as he jumped a foot into the air. His blankets went into chaos around him and he glared up at me, now fully awake. Nope not so peaceful anymore is he? I smiled innocently at him with a 'did- I-do- that?' look. If looks could kill I would be in a grave somewhere. "Lighten up Caleb, you can help me wake up Daleigh." He shook his head but I could see the small smile at the corner of his lip. Hm what to do to wake up Daleigh? I looked up trying to come up with something.
And just as I did Caleb took the liberty to grab a cup of water from the same mahogany table I had placed the candle on, and dumped in on my head. Now it was my turn to glare at him, oh he was so DEAD! I growled at him and he just stood there with a big cocky smirk on his face. A plan popped into my head and smiled angelically at him. His smile faded and I saw a mixture of confusion and fear enter his eyes. I just smiled brighter and in the most persuasive voice I could muster said "Caleb come closer. It's alright, really." He shuffled a little closer still remaining cautious. I sighed and started leaning in making a great show of looking like I was going to kiss him. I saw his eyes widen but a second later he started leaning in too!
My heart began to flutter and I ignored it, what in the blue world did he think he was doing? When our lips were just centimeters apart I lashed out with my hand, grabbing him by the ear and pulling him after me out into the hall. Ignoring his protests I drug him down the hall an evil smile on my face. You don't grow up with a younger brother without learning a few
tricks. I pulled him to the same wooden door that I remembered it so well. Had all of this happened in such little time? I dropped Caleb's ear and he glared at me. I didn't notice though, I was staring at the door remembering the day this all started. I sighed and knocked on the door. "Oh so you knock on HER door, nice to know," I shook my head smiling a little bit before knocking on the door.