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Chapter 4
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I woke up the next morning in complete excitement. I got up from my bed at early dawn and looked outside my window. Everything was blue and cloudy.
Getting dressed quickly, I grabbed my pack from under my bed that was patiently waiting for me. I was black and made of leather. My father made it for me on my third birthday. I used to fill it with toys and sweets; now it was serious. I was stuffed with ranger's needs. A small spear, bow, and sword were necessary of survival besides food and a cloak. I was familiar with these weapons and knew how to use them. The problem was skill. One day I will be better than my father.
Mother never approved of me having my own sword. She worried that I might get hurt. I rarely used it but sometimes Rannyn and I would practice, as always, he won.
I ran out of the room with my pack to Rannyn's room. His was three stories down. I had to careful and not to get caught by anyone. If I did, they would question me and possibly tell my father.
Quick as ranger's speed, I jumped from shadow to shadow. I wouldn't be spotted as easily if I had a cloak. The maids thought it was unnecessary for a child my age to own one. What a useless excuse.
When I finally arrived at Rannyn's bedroom door, I was out of breath. No one has seen me; good so far. Before I could knock it swung open and Rannyn stood with his pack and dressed in a ranger's cloak. I was jealous.
"We shouldn't be doing this. Your father will catch us." Rannyn whispered as we silently passed through the halls, heading outside.
"No, he said he didn't want us after daylight. We just need to be back before dusk." I explained my plan.
We arrived at the Garden's gate. The soldiers were nodding off, sleeping. My father told me that a guard is the sleepiest before the sun rose. This information was cruelal at the moment.
Rannyn slowly unlocked the gate being quiet as ever. I watched him from behind making sure the guards were sleeping. Then, he pulled as hard as he can, causing it to move a few inches open. The gate was old and it creaked of rust as he pulled. The sound was loud and anyone could have heard it from yards away.
We both froze and waited to be snatched. No one stirred. I exhaled of relief until I heard a rustling sound of a soldier moving in his chair. He opened his eyes and looked at us, drowsily. Rannyn didn't move, staring at him. Then, the soldier closed his eyes, falling back to sleep, dropping a bottle of alcohol. He was drunk.
We squeezed through the space of the gate and were on the streets again. We ran passed corners and emptied, sleepy streets until we reached our destination where Eleveth waited happily for us. She held a small basket of apples and bread and was dressed in a brown skirt with a long, sleeve tan shirt rolled up to her elbows with a vest over it. She was so pretty, the dirt on her face didn't ruin the image. I've seen many girls my age around the palace but she, she was different.
"Want some breakfast?" Eleveth asked, giving me her cute smile.
"How do we know it's not poisoned?" Rannyn cautioned, folding his arms on his chest.
She placed the basket down with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "Because my mother would never do that." Then grabbed an apple and broke off a piece of bread, chewing them and showing it was all right. "See? It's good."
Being that I haven't eaten for more than a day, I hungrily snatched the food and ate quickly filling my stomach. Rannyn carefully took a roll and stuffed it in his pocket, then bit into a red apple. Eleveth smiled; satisfied we were enjoying the food.
The run rose, but we didn't see it. It was cloudy and looked as if it was going to rain. The alley was darker than yesterday but the brick was still lying on the ground, some light peering in.
I swallowed the last remains of the bread and was ready. Rannyn helped Eleveth pull more bricks from the blocks until an opening was large enough for us to tightly squeeze ourselves through.
Eleveth got out first, then Rannyn. I looked around the alley and then came out last. I saw miles of plains calling for me. I kicked up my legs, getting ready to run. But Rannyn grabbed me and said, "What are you doing? You do not want to get caught by a guard."
"Right, follow me." Eleveth said.
We walked some distance around the border of Minas Tirith. Eleveth was trying to find the Great West Road, a path we would be traveling on. But I was worried about the time consistently.
"Eleveth, how far is the forest of Druadan?" I asked.
"Sixty miles by taking the road over there." She said, pointing north of Minas Tirith.
Rannyn's mouth dropped, "What? That would take all day."
"Less than a day's trip by horse." Corrected Eleveth.
"No, we cannot do this. Let's go, Eldarion."
"What?!" I exclaimed.
I didn't want to leave. I would do anything to get to the woods, even if it was just for a couple days. "Please, Rannyn we have gone this far."
"We have only gone less than a mile!"
Then we burst into an argument. Eleveth and Rannyn debated about the journey, not noticing a tall old man behind me, staring at us.
"Well, would you look at this, Moddyn, it's the king's son." The man said as he smiled at us.
His clothes were tattered and looked like he hasn't bathed in day. His son was beside him staring too. He was built strong of muscle and his neck was huge as a tree's trunk. A bow was behind him and looked more decently dressed. Black, messy hair reached to there shoulders and craziness glowed in there eyes.
"Yes, this is the perfect ransom. We will be wealthy in no time." Moddyn answered.
We all stood still, scared to the bone. Ransom? Kidnap me?
"Leave us alone." Rannyn warned as he drew his sword at the two.
They looked at it and laughed. The sound was challenging him. Then the old man's son pulled out his bow and arrow from behind to his forehead remaining calm as ever.
My friend's hand shook of fear and knew the man wasn't afraid to shoot. They didn't want him and needed no witnesses. "Eldarion, take Eleveth and go." He whispered to me.
The old man heard this and quickly grabbed Eleveth by the neck. She tried to struggle but he held his grip, choking her. I just froze. My legs felt as if they were glued to the ground.
"We have no time for this! Hurry!" he yelled.
Quick as a flash, Moddyn grabbed Rannyn and me. We kicked and fought but his skin was thick of hard muscle. Finally, the men threw us in an enclosed wagon with a door, and locked us inside. They made there way to the front, and continued to travel towards the Great West Road, leaving us crying for help.
Chapter 4
-=-=-=-=-=-
I woke up the next morning in complete excitement. I got up from my bed at early dawn and looked outside my window. Everything was blue and cloudy.
Getting dressed quickly, I grabbed my pack from under my bed that was patiently waiting for me. I was black and made of leather. My father made it for me on my third birthday. I used to fill it with toys and sweets; now it was serious. I was stuffed with ranger's needs. A small spear, bow, and sword were necessary of survival besides food and a cloak. I was familiar with these weapons and knew how to use them. The problem was skill. One day I will be better than my father.
Mother never approved of me having my own sword. She worried that I might get hurt. I rarely used it but sometimes Rannyn and I would practice, as always, he won.
I ran out of the room with my pack to Rannyn's room. His was three stories down. I had to careful and not to get caught by anyone. If I did, they would question me and possibly tell my father.
Quick as ranger's speed, I jumped from shadow to shadow. I wouldn't be spotted as easily if I had a cloak. The maids thought it was unnecessary for a child my age to own one. What a useless excuse.
When I finally arrived at Rannyn's bedroom door, I was out of breath. No one has seen me; good so far. Before I could knock it swung open and Rannyn stood with his pack and dressed in a ranger's cloak. I was jealous.
"We shouldn't be doing this. Your father will catch us." Rannyn whispered as we silently passed through the halls, heading outside.
"No, he said he didn't want us after daylight. We just need to be back before dusk." I explained my plan.
We arrived at the Garden's gate. The soldiers were nodding off, sleeping. My father told me that a guard is the sleepiest before the sun rose. This information was cruelal at the moment.
Rannyn slowly unlocked the gate being quiet as ever. I watched him from behind making sure the guards were sleeping. Then, he pulled as hard as he can, causing it to move a few inches open. The gate was old and it creaked of rust as he pulled. The sound was loud and anyone could have heard it from yards away.
We both froze and waited to be snatched. No one stirred. I exhaled of relief until I heard a rustling sound of a soldier moving in his chair. He opened his eyes and looked at us, drowsily. Rannyn didn't move, staring at him. Then, the soldier closed his eyes, falling back to sleep, dropping a bottle of alcohol. He was drunk.
We squeezed through the space of the gate and were on the streets again. We ran passed corners and emptied, sleepy streets until we reached our destination where Eleveth waited happily for us. She held a small basket of apples and bread and was dressed in a brown skirt with a long, sleeve tan shirt rolled up to her elbows with a vest over it. She was so pretty, the dirt on her face didn't ruin the image. I've seen many girls my age around the palace but she, she was different.
"Want some breakfast?" Eleveth asked, giving me her cute smile.
"How do we know it's not poisoned?" Rannyn cautioned, folding his arms on his chest.
She placed the basket down with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "Because my mother would never do that." Then grabbed an apple and broke off a piece of bread, chewing them and showing it was all right. "See? It's good."
Being that I haven't eaten for more than a day, I hungrily snatched the food and ate quickly filling my stomach. Rannyn carefully took a roll and stuffed it in his pocket, then bit into a red apple. Eleveth smiled; satisfied we were enjoying the food.
The run rose, but we didn't see it. It was cloudy and looked as if it was going to rain. The alley was darker than yesterday but the brick was still lying on the ground, some light peering in.
I swallowed the last remains of the bread and was ready. Rannyn helped Eleveth pull more bricks from the blocks until an opening was large enough for us to tightly squeeze ourselves through.
Eleveth got out first, then Rannyn. I looked around the alley and then came out last. I saw miles of plains calling for me. I kicked up my legs, getting ready to run. But Rannyn grabbed me and said, "What are you doing? You do not want to get caught by a guard."
"Right, follow me." Eleveth said.
We walked some distance around the border of Minas Tirith. Eleveth was trying to find the Great West Road, a path we would be traveling on. But I was worried about the time consistently.
"Eleveth, how far is the forest of Druadan?" I asked.
"Sixty miles by taking the road over there." She said, pointing north of Minas Tirith.
Rannyn's mouth dropped, "What? That would take all day."
"Less than a day's trip by horse." Corrected Eleveth.
"No, we cannot do this. Let's go, Eldarion."
"What?!" I exclaimed.
I didn't want to leave. I would do anything to get to the woods, even if it was just for a couple days. "Please, Rannyn we have gone this far."
"We have only gone less than a mile!"
Then we burst into an argument. Eleveth and Rannyn debated about the journey, not noticing a tall old man behind me, staring at us.
"Well, would you look at this, Moddyn, it's the king's son." The man said as he smiled at us.
His clothes were tattered and looked like he hasn't bathed in day. His son was beside him staring too. He was built strong of muscle and his neck was huge as a tree's trunk. A bow was behind him and looked more decently dressed. Black, messy hair reached to there shoulders and craziness glowed in there eyes.
"Yes, this is the perfect ransom. We will be wealthy in no time." Moddyn answered.
We all stood still, scared to the bone. Ransom? Kidnap me?
"Leave us alone." Rannyn warned as he drew his sword at the two.
They looked at it and laughed. The sound was challenging him. Then the old man's son pulled out his bow and arrow from behind to his forehead remaining calm as ever.
My friend's hand shook of fear and knew the man wasn't afraid to shoot. They didn't want him and needed no witnesses. "Eldarion, take Eleveth and go." He whispered to me.
The old man heard this and quickly grabbed Eleveth by the neck. She tried to struggle but he held his grip, choking her. I just froze. My legs felt as if they were glued to the ground.
"We have no time for this! Hurry!" he yelled.
Quick as a flash, Moddyn grabbed Rannyn and me. We kicked and fought but his skin was thick of hard muscle. Finally, the men threw us in an enclosed wagon with a door, and locked us inside. They made there way to the front, and continued to travel towards the Great West Road, leaving us crying for help.