Leaf led Jack to a guest room where a bath was waiting and some more appropriate clothes were waiting on the bed.

"Ok your all set the bath is over there and some clothes are on the bed. I'll be outside if you need any thing." Leaf said with a smile and walked out.

'Ok this is gonna be wearied.' Jack thought looking at the clothes on the bed.

He set his rifle by the bath tub and his sidearm on a small desk and began undressing. The water was slightly warm and Jack welcomed the clean feeling. He was soon clean and dressed. He was wearing a pair of brown pants that only had a button and a belt and a green tunic.

'Well not bad I guess.' Jack thought. 'A little tight but it will do.'

He picked up his sidearm and put it on his belt and shouldered his rifle as he walked out of the room. Leaf was sitting in a chair looking out across the land when Jack walked out.

"Hey not bad green really is your color." Leaf said with a smile.

"It's a little tight." Jack said as he walked over to where Leaf was sitting.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Leaf asked looking at the land.

"Yes it's a nice view." Jack said.

"Ok let's take you to see the king." Leaf said hopping to her feet.

Slain was sitting with Etoh in the throne room when Jack was led in by Leaf. Leaf and Jack walked up to Etoh and bowed.

"Slain has told me all that has happened to you and I will allow you to stay in the castle until you get settled to life here in Lodoss." Etoh said.

"Thank you sir." Jack said. "But I'm not giving up on going home just yet."

"I can understand your feelings and I wish you luck." Etoh said. "Now if you'll excuse me there something of the utmost importance I must attend to."

"Thank you sir." Jack said and walked out or the throne room with Leaf right behind him.

"I knew King Etoh would help you he is a kind hearted man." Leaf said as they walked back to the guest quarters.

"I still can't accept that I'm stuck in a place I know nothing about." Jack said as he looked out at the land.

"You'll get use to life here." Leaf said. "Oh the sun is setting we got to hurry."

"Hurry where?" Jack asked.

Leaf grabbed him by the hand and ran to where she was sitting when Jack come out of his room.

"You got to see the sunset from here it's beautiful." Leaf said.

She sat on a bench that was on a balcony that over looked the land to the south of the castle and over some mountains. The sun was slowly sinking behind the mountain peaks sending out hundreds of different color rays that lit up the clouds.

"No matter how many times I see the sunset from here I'll never get tired of it." Leaf sight as the multi colored lights disappeared one by one.

"That was beautiful." Jack said as the last ray of light disappeared.

"Well I think it's about time for dinner." Leaf said. "Shall we go?"

"Yea now that you mentioned it I am hungry." Jack said as his stomach let him know just how hungry he was.

Leaf led Jack to a large hall that was filled with many people. Etoh was sitting at the head of a large table with Slain at one hand and a woman by his other.

"Oh Leaf over here." Slain called seeing them walk through the door.

Leaf and Jack sat at the table and were greeted by Etoh who introduced Lealia to Jack. Jack set his rifle down at the table within easy reach as he was taught in basic.

"I'm terribly sorry but I still haven't heard your name." Etoh said.

"Jack Thompson." Jack said.

"Now that we are all acquainted I have something to say." Etoh said standing. "King Kashue of Flain (I think the spelling is wrong.) has asked for our help with a small matter."

"And what would that be?" Leaf asked.

"It seems that there is a small band of dark elves running amuck in the countryside and King Kashue's forces are spread thin after the fall of Marmo." Etoh said. "He is asking for a small group to help get ride of them. And is looking for a mercenary."

"Mercenary work is my specialty." Leaf smiled.

"Ha ha I thought that's what you'd say." Etoh laughed. "Spark and Neese are also going along."

"Wow we're getting the whole group back together." Leaf smiled.

"Not quite King Kashue has asked for 4 volunteers. And we only have 3." Etoh said.

"I'll go." Jack said raising his hand.

"You?!" Etoh asked. "But can you handle yourself in battle?"

"Yes your majesty he can." Leaf said. "He killed a Dark Elf earlier today with ease."

"Well it would be a good way for you to see Lodoss and make a little money." Etoh said. "If you are sure you want to go I have no objections."

"Great we will leave at sunrise." Leaf said. "Is Spark here?"

"No he is in Flain." Etoh said. "It will be the two of you journeying to Flain."

'Hey not bad now I can get to know him." Leaf thought with a smile.

"Ok now that that is settled lets eat." Etoh said and clapped his hands.

Music started playing and the food was brought out. The music was loud and festive and Jack thought it was nice. Leaf finished eating and stood up.
"Jack do you dance?" She asked.

"I try but don't succeed." Jack laughed.

"Come on let's dance and have some fun." Leaf said taking him by the hand.

"Umm Leaf if you value you're toes I'd think it over." Jack said as he was drug out onto the dance floor.

"Looks like you're stuck." Etoh laughed seeing Leaf drag him to the dance floor.

The music plaid and Leaf led the dance and Jack followed along the best he could. The only think that broke his concentration on how to dance were the occasional grunts from Leaf as he stepped on her toes. When the song ended they walked back to the table where the others were applauding and laughing.

"Not bad." Slain laughed as they sat down.

"Umm I think we're gonna have to postpone our departure until my feet heal." Leaf groaned as she rubbed her feet.

"I told you." Jack said.

The banquet was soon over and Leaf led Jack back to his room.

"I'm umm sorry about your feet." Jack said.

"It's ok I expected you to steep on them more than you did." Leaf said. "Get some sleep we have a long road ahead of us."

"How long will it take us?" Jack asked.

"About 3 days." Leaf answered as she turned and walked into the door that led to the room next to Jack's

Jack walked into his room and found his cammo's had been washed and were folded up on the bed. All the things he had in his pockets were all set on the desk next to the bed. He looked at his maps and spar magazines for his rifle and sidearm. And a small letter that was on always in his right front pocket.

'I guess I don't need this anymore.' He thought as he opened the letter that was addressed to his parents in Florida.

Dear Mom and Dad,

This is a letter I never wanted to write nor you to read. I'm guessing if your reading this then I'm gone. I know you were against my joining the Army but it is something I always wanted to do. All I can say is I'm sorry I had to put you through this. I know this is hard on both of you but I also know you'll get over it. I have only one request, I want you to use the money the Army gives you to move yourselves out of that old house your living in. As you know I have never been good at these kind of things so I'm gonna end this with one of my favorite poems.

If I should die and leave you
Be not like others, quick undone
Who keep long vigil by the silent
dust and weep.

For my sake turn to life and smile
Nerving thy heart and trembling
hand to comfort weaker souls than thee.
Complete these unfinished tasks of mine
And I perchance may therein comfort thee.
~ Thomas Gray ~

I love you both.

Your son.

Jack.

Jack folded the letter back up and placed it back in his pocket and laid on the bed. Before he knew it there was a knock at the door.

"Jack its Leaf. It's almost sunrise we have to get ready to go." Leaf said.

"I'll be right there." Jack said sitting up.

He quickly changed into his cammo's and shouldered his pack and rifle and set his sidearm on his side. Leaf was wearing her armor (What little armor she had.) and was sitting on the bench looking at the land as it was slowly lit up by the sun coming from behind them.

"You really should get some armor from the armory." Leaf said.

"It's ok I have this." Jack said hitting his chest plate that was under his cammo's.

"Well ok then if your ready lets go." Leaf said. "How are you at riding?"

"Riding what?" Jack asked.

"A horse of course." Leaf laughed. "Etoh is letting us barrow some horses."

"I've never ridden a horse." Jack said.

"Oh this will be good." Leaf laughed as she led him into the stables.

She saddled two horses and showed Jack how to mount it.

"Looks easy enough." Jack said as he set his foot in the stirrup and tried to swing his other over the horse.

From the way he toppled off the other side of the horst he assumed he put to much power into the swing. Leaf nearly fell off her horse from laughing so hard. It took Jack about 3 tries to getting on the horse before he finally gave up.

"I'll walk." He said.

"Here you can ride behind me." Leaf said holding out her hand.

Jack took it and was suppressed at how east it was for Leaf to swing him up onto the back of the horse.

"Ok let's get moving we have a long road ahead of us." Leaf said as she nudged the horse and they set out for Flain.

(Ok as you may have guessed there is gonna be a little romance between these two later on in the story. I hope this has been good so far please feel free to let me know what you thought even if its bad. I'm always open to suggestions. Thanks for reading this far.

Rev. Joshua Hunt)