A/n: An exciting chapter. New character alert!!

Chapter Four

The sun was finally down and I was feeling terrible. On the first night of my quest, I'd already gotten captured. How unfortunate was I? But instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to stop moaning and do something. The only way I could get out of this horrible situation was to use my head, and I began to observe. When we reached the camp, there were tents were set up around a large fire. Twenty men or so sat around the fire, their eyes on us as we rode towards them.

"What've you got there, Rufin?" called one.

"A lass, dressed as a boy!" he yelled back, laughing.

He helped me down and led me passed the fire, where everyone looked me up and down and hand a good laugh. I limped painfully beside Rufin, flashing my brown eyes menacingly at the men. Finally, they tossed me in a tent, where they untied my hands and feet, but didn't remove the gag. Idiots. Wouldn't I remove it once my hands were free? Of course I did. They then threw in a red taffeta dress.

"Put that on, Lady!" called Rufin, as he tossed it in. "You should look good when presented to the tribe."

What was I to do? I didn't want to get killed. I quickly fell down and looked at my leg. It seemed fine, except for my swelled ankle. It didn't feel broken. Probably twisted. Looking around the tent, I found a scrap of cloth and tightly wrapped my ankle, hoping it would hold it in place so it could heal.

I put the dress on over my undergarments, leaving my breeches and boots on. Just in case. I also tied my belt around my waist, lest I get my sword back. I looked down at myself in the dress. It was low-cut and deep red. I had to admit it was pretty and I looked good in it, although I wished I didn't. I looked around the tent again. I couldn't see anything that I could use to defend myself, so it was no use. But as I turned to leave the tent, I saw a glitter in the corner of my eye. Sitting on the ground, half covered by a blanket, was a dagger! I picked it up and looked around my body for a place to put it. I had no pockets, and it'd be seen in my belt. I stuffed it up my sleeve.

I peered outside, where Rufin was standing with two other men, talking. I looked to the back of the tent. With a little snooping, I found that it wasn't attached to the ground. I could get out that way! I snuck under the back and began running into the woods. I'd almost reached it, too, until an arrow hit the tree next to me. I whirled around. A boy was standing about twenty paces away from me, smiling. I couldn't really see anything about him but his eyes. They were a piercing green, so green that I felt he could see through me, piercing me to the core. He ran towards me, and I started back into the woods. He caught up with me immediately and grabbed my arm, then pushed me gently against the tree.

"You-" he began.

He didn't get to say anymore. I'd slid the dagger from my sleeve and pressed it to his stomach. "Let me go," I whispered. "Or I'll gut you right here."

He laughed quietly. "Go ahead, Lady," he replied, pausing. "Take my life. I dare you to-"

"Ah!" someone called, interrupting him. "He's found her!"

Suddenly a bunch of men were surrounding me, and patting the boy on the back. "Well done, my boy!" cried Alabar. "You've recaptured our hostage!"

They dragged me back to the tent, where they "presented" me to Rufin. "Lady!" he cried, bowing mockingly. "You look lovely."

I said nothing, only spat on his boots.

He looked like he was about to laugh. Why can't anyone take me seriously? "Come on," he said, grabbing my arm. "Come on."

I resisted as much as I could, and Rufin basically dragged me to the fire, where the men sat eagerly, waiting for something I knew nothing of.

"Men, this is the lass I found," Rufin cried, bowing.

The men all bowed, mocking me like Rufin had. Their faces seemed impatient; they wanting to see something that was coming up soon. They looked like wolves, their mouths almost dripping in saliva.

"My name is Nora Rose," I said loudly.

One of them grabbed my wrist. "What do you say, Lady?" he asked rudely

"My name is Nora Rose!" I yelled, wrenching myself away from him.

The men laughed. "Such a fiery woman! She'll give you hell when you do it, Rufin!" they cried.

"Do what?" I asked.

They laughed some more. Laughed and laughed and laughed, until hot tears of anger and frustration poured down my face. I had no idea what was going on, I'd abandoned Ophelia and Sidney, and I'd let down Allegra, Ginny, and Estelle. I stood there, clenching my fists, the fire playing shadows across their bodies and mine.

Suddenly, I felt someone's hand around my waist. I moved to scream, but a hand covered my mouth. I started to thrash about, but a voice in my ear whispered, "Don't be afraid! Stop moving. I'm saving your life."

I stopped moving and tried to walked backwards with whoever was pulling me, watching the gypsies laugh and drink. We began to move backwards quicker, and quicker, until we were almost running. We'd almost reached the woods. I prayed they'd get into a fight or something, and forget about me. Unfortunately, my wish was granted. Sort of.

"Hey!" someone cried. "Where's the lady?"

The eyes moved about the clearing, until they saw me, and the stranger behind me, pulling me away from them.

"It's Samuel!" someone cried. "Get Alabar! It's his son!"

Suddenly, Alabar came charging out towards us. He grabbed my wrist and Samuel's forearm, pulling us both back to the fire. There, I finally saw my savior's face. He was tan and sweaty, with messy black hair in a stubby ponytail. He was tall and muscular, really rugged. But the most shocking thing about him were his eyes. He had the most spectacular green eyes that shone with defiance and resistance. It was the one who'd betrayed me to them earlier!

"Samuel, Samuel, Samuel!" whispered Alabar furiously. "Must you embarrass me like this? My own son! Why? You found her earlier, you were good then…"

Samuel shrugged, and chuckled. "I was taking the girl," he said simply.

"Why?" demanded Rufin. "She's mine, I caught her!"

"She's a human, Rufin," replied Samuel. "You didn't 'catch her.'"

"I did too!" Rufin said angrily.

"I'm not an animal!" I huffed. "I'm standing right here!"

"Shut it," snapped Rufin.

Samuel snickered. "Honestly Rufin? I think she'd taken you. I saw you in the woods, you're no match for her," he said.

"She could not have!" Rufin cried angrily. "She's a girl, for the Lady's sake! I'd certainly kill her first!"

"Which is why I'll be taking her," Samuel said, grabbing my hand and pulling me away. "She's much to pretty to die."

"No, you won't!" replied Rufin.

"Yes, I will," Samuel retorted, walking away with me.

"Come back here, coward!" Rufin screamed. "I challenge you to a duel!"

Samuel dropped my hand and turned around, grinning. "Are you sure of that, man?" he said.

"Absolutely," Rufin replied. "Unless you're too scared to duel with me."

Samuel laughed; a deep, smooth laugh that sent creepy shivers down my spine. "Never," he said.

"Name the time, place and weapon, traitor," Rufin snarled.

Samuel sighed happily. "Well, why not just do it now?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips. "Better to get it over with, right?"

He placed his hand behind his back, and withdrew an arrow. He eyed Rufin, twisting the arrow around in his hand. Shaking his head, he placed the arrow back into it's quiver behind his back and dropped it onto the ground. Samuel then placed his hand on his hip and gracefully drew out a sword, twirling it around in his fingers elegantly. Then he looked at me, grinning.

"I sure hope you're worth losing my life over, lass," he said. "How about a kiss for your redeemer?"

"Go to hell," I replied, folding my arms angrily.

He grinned, and walked towards Rufin. "First one to draw blood wins, aye?" Samuel said. "Whoever wins receives the girl."



A/n: Okay, kind of short, but it was interesting, no? Cliffhanger! I love those! Please review, please please please. Just humor me and do it, I was sad at the amount of reviews I got last time!